The Chicago Blackhawks are expected to be without third-line center Jason Dickinson for Saturday’s matchup with Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and the Edmonton Oilers. That’s a tough loss for Chicago, as Dickinson is the team’s best defensive center and often plays against the opposition’s top scoring line. Dickinson exited Thursday’s loss to the Winnipeg Jets early, marking the third time he’s been unable to finish a full game already this season.
Fortunately, the Blackhawks will have Ilya Mikheyev back in the lineup at Rogers Place on Saturday night, as he’s expected to return after missing the past two games with an upper-body injury.
Jeff Blashill expects Ilya Mikheyev to play tonight. Spencer Knight has the net.
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) November 1, 2025
Mikheyev is off to a spectacular start to his second season in Chicago, as he’s posted five points (3G, 2A) and been a hound on the defensive side of the puck. He’s been a huge part of the Blackhawks’ penalty kill, which currently ranks ninth (85.1%) in the NHL. Mikheyev has been on the ice for only four goals against (in all situations) in nine games played this year. Only one has come at even strength.
The Blackhawks didn’t go through line rushes during their morning skate on Saturday, leaving their official lineup in Edmonton unknown. However, during Friday’s practice session, Mikheyev was slotted into the third-line right-wing spot, where he skated alongside Ryan Donato and Colton Dach. Expect that trio to be head coach Jeff Blashill’s shutdown defensive group against McDavid’s line.
Blackhawks are practicing now in Edmonton.
I don’t see Dickinson on the ice. I do see Mikheyev. Here are the forward lines:
Greene-Bedard-Burakovsky
Teravainen-Nazar-Bertuzzi
Donato-Dach-Mikheyev
Slaggert-Foligno-Lafferty pic.twitter.com/GDTGE4PIUc
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) October 31, 2025
Mikheyev and the Blackhawks face a major test defensively on Saturday, as McDavid is coming off a scoreless performance in his last time out against the Rangers. He’s yet to post back-to-back games without a point in the 2025-26 season, and it happened only three times in the previous year. McDavid always seems to respond after being held off the stat sheet, and he leads the Oilers with 14 points (3G, 11A) through 12 games. In 23 career contests against the Blackhawks, McDavid has recorded 32 points (11G, 21A).
Edmonton’s power play has also been rolling early on this season, ranking third in the NHL at 30.3 percent. Four of Draisaitl’s eight goals have been scored on the man advantage, while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has also chipped in for two power-play tallies. As a team, the Oilers have converted on ten of their 33 power-play chances.
Without Dickinson, the Blackhawks will need Mikheyev to bring his A-game defensively, both at even strength and while shorthanded, to help slow down this potent Edmonton offense.
Puck drops in Edmonton at 9:00 p.m. CT on Saturday, with the game being televised on CHSN. Here’s a FULL preview of the Blackhawks’ matchup with the Oilers.
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