The Chicago Blackhawks (22-27-9) continue their four-game road trip out of the Olympic break against the Colorado Avalanche (38-10-9) at Ball Arena on Saturday. It’s the second of three matchups between the Blackhawks and Avalanche in the 2025-26 season.
In the first meeting on Nov. 23 at the United Center, Scott Wedgewood backstopped Colorado to a 1-0 shutout win, stopping all 22 shots faced. Canadian Olympian Cale Makar scored the lone tally late in the second period for the game-winning goal. Spencer Knight stopped 25 of 26 shots for Chicago in defeat.
Last time out, the Blackhawks dropped their first game in 22 days, falling 4-2 to the Nashville Predators on Thursday. Connor Bedard and Tyler Bertuzzi (PP) recorded the Blackhawks two goals, giving the team a 2-1 lead early in the third period. But the Predators stormed back with three unanswered goals, scored by Matthew Wood (PP), Ryan O’Reilly, and Steven Stamkos, to steal the win. Dating back to Jan. 12, the Blackhawks have now dropped 10 of their last 13 games and sit 10 points back of the Seattle Kraken for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
The Avalanche have split their first two games back from the Olympic break, defeating the Utah Mammoth 4-2 on Wednesday and losing 5-2 to the Minnesota Wild on Thursday. Superstar Nathan MacKinnon didn’t play in Wednesday’s win over Utah, but he did return against the Wild and recorded two assists in the loss. Martin Necas tallied both goals for Colorado and has three points in the last two games.
Colorado still holds the top spot in the NHL standings, having won 38 of 57 games so far this season for 85 points. The Avs have a five-point cushion over the Wild, who sit in second place, but have played three more games.
Here’s everything else to note before the puck drops at 5:00 p.m. CT in Nashville.
Blackhawks Projected Lineup
Forward Lines
Ryan Greene — Connor Bedard – Andre Burakovsky
Oliver Moore — Frank Nazar — Teuvo Teravainen
Tyler Bertuzzi — Jason Dickinson — Ilya Mikheyev
Ryan Donato — Nick Foligno — Landon Slaggert
Defensive Pairings
Alex Vlasic-Louis Crevier
Matt Grzelcyk-Artyom Levshunov
Connor Murphy-Sam Rinzel
Scratched
F — Colton Dach, D — Kevin Korchinski, F — Sam Lafferty
Injured
D — Wyatt Kaiser (lower body)
***
The Blackhawks did not hold a morning skate, but they did practice in Denver on Friday.
During line rushes at practice, Teuvo Teravainen moved back to the second line in place of Tyler Bertuzzi. Bertuzzi joined the third line with Jason Dickinson and Ilya Mikheyev. Ryan Donato was bumped down to Teravainen’s fourth-line spot with captain Nick Foligno and Landon Slaggert.
Colton Dach, Sam Lafferty, and Kevin Korchinski are expected to be the healthy scratches for the second consecutive game.
Avalanche Projected Lineup
Forward Lines
Gabriel Landeskog — Nathan MacKinnon — Martin Necas
Artturi Lehkonen — Brock Nelson — Valeri Nichushkin
Ross Colton — Jack Drury — Victor Olofsson
Parker Kelly — Zakhar Bardakov — Gavin Brindley
Defensive Pairings
Devon Toews-Cale Makar
Josh Manson-Brent Burns
Brett Kulak-Sam Malinski
Scratched
None
Injured
F — Joel Kiviranta (undisclosed), F — Logan O’Connor (hip surgery)
Projected Goaltending Matchup
Spencer Knight (16-17-7, 2.63 GAA, .907 Sv%, 3 SO) vs. Mackenzie Blackwood (16-6-1, 2.28 GAA, .916 sv%, 3 SO)
Knight is expected to make his 41st start of the season for the Blackhawks. The 24-year-old allowed three goals on 25 shots faced to earn the loss in his most recent start on Thursday. Knight is 0-2-1 with a 1.65 GAA and .935 Sv% in three career games against Colorado.
Blackwood is expected to make his 23rd start of the season for the Avalanche. The 29-year-old netminder allowed three goals on 34 shots to earn the loss in his last start on Thursday. Blackwood is 4-0-2 with a 2.11 GAA and .921 Sv% in six career games against Chicago.
2025-26 Results vs. Avalanche
Chicago has taken points in three of their last five games against the Avalanche (2-2-1).
11/23/25 — 1-0 L, United Center
02/28/26 — Ball Arena
03/20/26 — United Center
2025-26 Team Stats & Leaders
Chicago Blackhawks:
Goals — Tyler Bertuzzi (26)
Assists — Connor Bedard (30)
Points — Connor Bedard (54)
GF/GP — 2.64 (26th)
GA/GP — 3.17 (22nd)
PP% — 19.2% (21st)
PK% — 85.2% (1st)
FOW% — 47.1% (29th)
Colorado Avalanche:
Goals — Nathan MacKinnon (40)
Assists — Nathan MacKinnon (55)
Points — Nathan MacKinnon (95)
GF/GP — 3.81 (1st)
GA/GP — 2.46 (1st)
PP% — 15.1% (32nd)
PK% — 83.9% (3rd)
FOW% — 51.2% (9th)
How To Watch, Listen, & Game Info
Chicago Blackhawks (22-27-9, 53 points) @ Colorado Avalanche (38-10-9, 85 points)
5:00 p.m. CT — Ball Arena
Head Coaches: Jeff Blashill (CHI), Jared Bednar (COL)
TV/Stream: CHSN (Ball/Granato), ALT
Radio: WGN 720 AM (Grey/Chelios)
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