Happy Saturday! Everyone, make sure to get outside today, as temperatures are expected to reach nearly 70 degrees Fahrenheit in the Chicago area. After having the first snowfall of the season not too long ago, it’s going to feel like T-shirt-and-shorts weather today. Classic Chicago.
The Blackhawks are back in action tonight at the United Center, as they face off with the Toronto Maple Leafs in an Original Six matchup. The Blackhawks are hosting their first Centennial Celebration Night, where they will honor “The Originals” chapter of the team’s season-long Centennial celebration. Atrium Doors open at the United Center at 3:30 p.m. CT.
Also in Blackhawks news, head coach Jeff Blashill provided updates on four banged-up forwards after Friday’s practice, while a first-round pick extended his point streak in college hockey.
Around the league, the Maple Leafs have placed Auston Matthews on injured reserve, Matthew Schaefer grabbed the NHL lead in goals among defensemen, and Jack Hughes suffered a “fluke injury” at dinner in Chicago on Thursday.
All that & more in the Daily!
Chicago Blackhawks Recap, News & Tidbits
Chicago Hockey Now: Andre Burakovsky will return to the lineup on Saturday against Toronto, but the Chicago Blackhawks aren’t sure if three other forwards will be available. Here are the latest updates from Blashill on Tyler Bertuzzi, Jason Dickinson, and Frank Nazar after Friday’s practice session.
More CHN: Bertuzzi missed practice on Friday, and it could have been a result of the brutal hit he received from a New Jersey Devils’ defenseman in Wednesday’s contest. Brenden Dillon crunched Bertuzzi hard into the boards with an illegal check, which resulted in a maximum $5,000 fine from the Department of Player Safety.
More CHN: ICYMI, Wayne Gretzky gave Connor Bedard high praise on the NHL on TNT panel ahead of Wednesday’s nationally televised matchup with the Devils. “The Great One” believes that Bedard is “earning his way” onto Team Canada’s 2026 Olympic roster with his electric start to the season. Love to hear 99 giving 98 his credit!
In prospects news, 2025 first-round pick (No. 25 overall) Vaclav Nestrasil extended his point streak to six games, but UMass lost 7-3 to Boston College on Friday night. Nestrasil now has 15 points (7G, 8A) through his first 12 NCAA games with the Minutemen and is third in the country in freshman scoring.
NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now
Sportsnet: Matthew Schaefer, the 2025 No. 1 overall pick, is already playing like a bona fide No. 1 NHL defenseman, which is remarkable for a player who turned 18 years old back in early September. Schaefer grabbed the lead in goals among all NHL defensemen with his seventh tally of the season on Friday to lift the New York Islanders to a 3-2 overtime win over the Utah Mammoth. Schaefer also became the youngest player to score an OT winner in the regular season in NHL history. The kid is truly incredible.
The Athletic: Getting into some Central Division news, the Minnesota Wild are expected to be without first-line center Marco Rossi for a couple of weeks with a lower-body injury. Rossi has tried to play through the injury since initially getting banged up on Oct. 18 against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Wild are in Chicago in just 11 days to face the Blackhawks on Nov. 26.
More NHL.com: The Toronto Maple Leafs will be without captain Auston Matthews for Saturday night’s tilt at the United Center, as the captain was placed on injured reserve on Friday night. Matthews will likely miss one week with a lower-body injury.
New Jersey Hockey Now: After the New Jersey Devils defeated the Blackhawks on Wednesday, the team stayed in Chicago for another day before getting back on the road. Well, during a dinner on Thursday, Devils’ star forward Jack Hughes suffered a “fluke injury”, as he reportedly slipped and cut his hand. Hughes, who has 20 points through 17 games this season, is still being evaluated.
Montreal Hockey Now: Tough news for the Montreal Canadiens. Alex Newhook fractured his ankle on Thursday night, while Kaiden Guhle recently suffered a torn abductor muscle. Both players are going to miss serious time for the Habs.
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The Pittsburgh Penguins are in Stockholm, Sweden, for the NHL’s 2025 Global Series, and they squared off with the Nashville Predators at Avicii Arena on Friday. The Pens were unable to hang onto their late lead and fell 2-1 in overtime, with Steven Stamkos recording the game-winning goal.
For more Blackhawks news, visit Chicago Hockey Now and like our Facebook Page.
Follow us on X: