The Chicago Blackhawks (10-7-4) return home to the United Center and look to bounce back after two straight losses against the red-hot Colorado Avalanche (15-1-5) on Sunday night.
Last time out, the Blackhawks suffered their worst loss of the season, as they fell 9-3 to the Buffalo Sabres in the back end of their back-to-back on Friday. After faltering in the third period against the Seattle Kraken on Thursday, most of the Blackhawks’ squad looked like they still hadn’t recovered while on the ice in Western New York. Tyler Bertuzzi was responsible for two of the team’s three goals, while Alex Vlasic recorded the other tally for the road squad.
Colorado is riding an eight-game winning streak entering Sunday’s contest and has just one regulation loss through 21 games this season. The Avs are playing the back end of their own back-to-back in Chicago, as they took down the Nashville Predators 3-0 in the front end on Saturday. Nathan MacKinnon scored his league-leading 17th goal of the season, while Mackenzie Blackwood stopped all 35 shots faced to record a shutout. The Avs have lost only one game in November, which came in overtime to the San Jose Sharks all the way back on Nov. 1.
Here’s everything to note before puck drops at 6:00 p.m. CT in Chicago.
Blackhawks Regular Season Notes (Last Five Games)
Andre Burakovsky, Jason Dickinson, and Frank Nazar were all out with injuries, but the Blackhawks still managed to claw their way to a point in a 4-3 overtime loss to the New Jersey Devils.
Clutch third-period goals from Teuvo Teravainen and Colton Dach lifted the Blackhawks to a 3-2 comeback win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, the Hawks lost captain Nick Foligno in the process, as he’s set to miss an extended period with a hand injury.
For the second time in 11 days, Connor Bedard carried the Blackhawks to victory over the Calgary Flames. Bedard, who wore an “A” as an alternate captain for the first time in his NHL career, recorded his second hat trick of the season in the 5-2 win.
After leading 2-0 through two periods, the Blackhawks surrendered three unanswered goals in the third to fall 3-2 to the Seattle Kraken. A controversial penalty call also had an impact on the outcome at the United Center.
Well, that wasn’t very good. The Blackhawks suffered their worst loss of the season in the back end of their back-to-back, falling 9-3 to the Buffalo Sabres in embarrassing fashion. It’s the first time the Blackhawks have allowed nine goals in a game since 2011.
Projected Blackhawks Lineup
Forward Lines
Ryan Greene — Connor Bedard – Tyler Bertuzzi
Teuvo Teravainen — Frank Nazar — Oliver Moore
Ryan Donato — Jason Dickinson — Ilya Mikheyev
Colton Dach — Sam Lafferty
Defensive Pairings
Alex Vlasic-Louis Crevier
Wyatt Kaiser-Artyom Levshunov
Matt Grzelcyk-Connor Murphy
Sam Rinzel
Scratched
F — Landon Slaggert
Injured
G — Laurent Brossoit (hip), F — Andre Burakovsky (undisclosed), F — Nick Foligno (hand)
***
Andre Burakovsky wasn’t on the ice for the morning skate, and he will officially miss a second consecutive game. Burakovsky, a former member of the Avalanche, suffered the injury in the first period on Thursday after taking a high hit from Kraken defenseman Ryan Lindgren.
After missing the past ten games, Jason Dickinson is finally healthy enough to return to the lineup on Sunday. Dickinson is set to center the third line with Ryan Donato and Ilya Mikheyev. His return is crucial for the Blackhawks, as he’ll likely be matched up against Nathan MacKinnon and the Avs’ top line for most of the night.
Head coach Jeff Blashill confirmed after the morning skate that the Blackhawks will roll with 11 forwards and seven defensemen in the lineup once again. Either Sam Lafferty or Landon Slaggert is expected to be scratched.
Avalanche Projected Lineup
Forward Lines
Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Martin Necas
Ross Colton — Brock Nelson — Gavin Brindley
Gabriel Landeskog — Jack Drury — Victor Olofsson
Parker Kelly — Zakhar Bardakov — Tristen Nielsen
Defensive Pairings
Devon Toews-Cale Makar
Josh Manson-Brent Burns
Samuel Girard-Sam Malinski
Scratched
D — Ilya Solovyov
Injured
F — Joel Kiviranta (lower body), F — Valeri Nichushkin (lower body), F — Logan O’Connor (hip surgery)
Projected Goaltending Matchup
Spencer Knight (7-4-3, 2.47 GAA, .922 Sv%, 1 SO) vs. Scott Wedgewood (12-1-2, 2.23 GAA, .912 Sv%, 0 SO)
Knight is set to make his 15th start of the season in net for the Blackhawks. The 24-year-old netminder stopped 24 of 27 shots faced in his most recent outing on Thursday in the loss to Seattle. Knight is 0-1-1 with a 1.94 GAA and .922 Sv% in two career starts against Colorado.
Wedgewood is in line to get the start for the Avalanche, as MacKenzie Blackwood played in the front end of the back-to-back on Saturday. The 33-year-old has lost in only three of his 15 appearances so far this season and has won seven consecutive starts. Wedgewood is 4-3-0 with a 1.99 GAA, .922 Sv%, and 1 shutout in eight career games against Chicago.
2024-25 Results vs. Avalanche
The Blackhawks and Avalanche split the four meetings against each other in the 2024-25 campaign. Sunday marks the first of three matchups between the two teams in the 2025-26 season. Chicago is 3-1-1 in the last five games against Colorado at the United Center.
10/28/24 — 5-2 W, Ball Arena
01/08/25 — 3-1 W, United Center
03/10/25 — 3-0 L, Ball Arena
04/02/25 — 3-2 SOL, United Center
2025-26 Team Stats & Leaders
Chicago Blackhawks:
Goals — Connor Bedard (13)
Assists — Connor Bedard (18)
Points — Connor Bedard (31)
GF/GP — 3.29 (7th)
GA/GP — 2.86 (11th)
PP% — 25% (7th)
PK% — 82.7% (7th)
FOW% — 46.3% (29th)
Colorado Avalanche:
Goals — Nathan MacKinnon (17)
Assists — Nathan MacKinnon & Cale Makar (20)
Points — Nathan MacKinnon (37)
GF/GP — 4.14 (1st)
GA/GP — 2.29 (1st)
PP% — 16.2% (24th)
PK% — 86.6% (3rd)
FOW% — 49.3% (19th)
How To Watch, Listen, & Game Info
Colorado Avalanche (15-1-5, 35 points) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (10-7-4, 24 points)
6:00 p.m. CT — United Center
Head Coaches — Jeff Blashill (CHI), Jared Bednar (COL)
TV/Stream: CHSN (Ball/Pang), NHL Network, SN, TVAS, ALT
Radio: WGN 720 AM (Wiedeman/Konroyd)
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