The Chicago Blackhawks (10-8-5) look to end their four-game losing streak when they face off with the Nashville Predators (7-12-4) at the United Center on Friday night.
Friday marks the third game of the Blackhawks’ current four-game homestand, which hasn’t gotten off to the best start. Despite two sturdy performances in a row against red-hot Central Division opponents, the Blackhawks dropped both games by one goal. After falling 1-0 to the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday, the Minnesota Wild pulled out a comeback 4-3 overtime victory in Chicago on Wednesday. The Blackhawks couldn’t hold onto leads of 2-1 and 3-2 in the third period and have lost four games in a row for the first time this season.
Connor Bedard scored his 14th goal of the season and added an assist in the defeat to the Wild, giving him ten multi-point games on the year. Bedard is now tied for third in the NHL in goals and also sits solo fourth with 33 points through 23 games. His two-point effort moved him into a tie with Patrick Kane for the second-most points (161) in Blackhawks history for a player age 20 or younger. Bedard now trails only Eddie Olczyk, with 180 points.
The Predators enter Friday’s contest with the fewest points in the NHL, with just 18 through their opening 23 games of the season. Nashville has won just three of 11 games so far in November (3-6-2) and sits dead last in the Western Conference by one point. However, they are coming off a 6-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings in their previous outing on Wednesday. Captain Ryan O’Reilly recorded three points (1G, 2A), while Steven Stamkos and Roman Josi each found the back of the net. Justus Annunen stopped 28 of 31 shots to get the win in goal.
Here’s everything to note before puck drops at 7:00 p.m. CT in Chicago.
Blackhawks Regular Season Notes (Last Five Games)
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 impacted 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.
The Blackhawks went toe-to-toe with the NHL’s top team, the Colorado Avalanche, but still had their losing streak extended to three games. Scott Wedgewood got the better of Spencer Knight in a goaltending duel at the United Center.
Another red-hot Central Division opponent, the Minnesota Wild, came into the United Center on Wednesday. Similar to Sunday, the Blackhawks outplayed the Wild for most of the night, but their losing streak was extended to four games with a 4-3 overtime loss. Another controversial call helped Kirill Kaprizov net the overtime winner on the power play.
Projected Blackhawks Lineup
Forward Lines
Ryan Greene — Connor Bedard – Andre Burakovsky*
Teuvo Tervainen — Frank Nazar — Tyler Bertuzzi
Ryan Donato — Jason Dickinson — Ilya Mikheyev
Colton Dach — Oliver Moore
Defensive Pairings
Alex Vlasic-Louis Crevier
Wyatt Kaiser-Artyom Levshunov
Matt Grzelcyk-Connor Murphy
Sam Rinzel
Scratched
F — Sam Lafferty, F — Landon Slaggert
Injured
G — Laurent Brossoit (hip), F — Andre Burakovsky (undisclosed)*, F — Nick Foligno (hand)
***
After missing the last three games with an undisclosed injury, Andre Burakovsky is expected to rejoin the Blackhawks’ lineup against Nashville. Burakovsky, tied for third on the team with 15 points, is slated to return on the top forward line alongside Connor Bedard and Ryan Greene.
With Burakovsky’s return, Tyler Bertuzzi will slide down to the second line with Teuvo Teravainen and Frank Nazar. Oliver Moore has been moved out of the top six and into more of a checking role on the fourth line with Colton Dach.
With seven defensemen expected to dress, Sam Lafferty and Landon Slaggert will be the two scratches. Should Burakovsky not be able to draw back in, Lafferty would likely be the 11th forward in the lineup.
Predators Projected Lineup
Forward Lines
Steven Stamkos — Ryan O’Reilly — Luke Evangelista
Filip Forsberg — Erik Haula — Jonathan Marchessault
Michael Bunting — Michael McCarron — Ozzy Wiesblatt
Reid Schaefer — Fedor Svechkov — Matthew Wood
Defensive Pairings
Nicolas Hague-Roman Josi
Brady Skjei-Nick Perbix
Spencer Stastney-Nick Blankenburg
Scratched
D — Justin Barron, F — Tyson Jost, D — Adam Wilsby
Injured
F — Cole Smith (lower body)
Projected Goaltending Matchup
Arvid Soderbom (3-3-1, 3.46 GAA, .881 Sv%, 0 SO) vs. Juuse Saros (6-9-3, 3.08 GAA, .889 Sv%, 0 SO)
Soderblom is set to make his eighth start of the season in net for the Blackhawks. The 26-year-old was hung out to dry in his most recent outing against the Sabres last Friday, as he surrendered nine goals on 22 shots faced in a 9-3 loss. Soderblom is 0-3-3 with a 3.07 GAA and .911 Sv% in seven career games against Nashville.
Saros is expected to make his 19th start of the season for the Predators. The 30-year-old gave up five goals on just 16 shots faced and was pulled in an 8-3 loss to the Florida Panthers in his last start. Saros is 14-4-2 with a 2.17 GAA, .926 Sv%, and two shutouts in 21 career games against Chicago.
2024-25 Results vs. Predators
The Blackhawks dropped three of the four meetings against the Predators in the 2024-25 campaign, though two occurred in extra time. Chicago is just 2-10-2 in 14 games versus Nashville since the start of 2022. Friday marks the first of four matchups during the 2025-26 season (01/20/26, 02/26/26, 03/22/26).
10/25/24 — 3-2 L, United Center
01/16/25 — 3-2 SOL, Bridgestone Arena
02/07/25 — 6-2 W, United Center
03/08/25 — 3-2 OTL, Bridgestone Arena
2025-26 Team Stats & Leaders
Chicago Blackhawks:
Goals — Connor Bedard (14)
Assists — Connor Bedard (19)
Points — Connor Bedard (33)
GF/GP — 3.13 (10th)
GA/GP — 2.83 (12th)
PP% — 22.7% (13th)
PK% — 83.1% (9th)
FOW% — 47.2% (27th)
Nashville Predators:
Goals — Filip Forsberg (9)
Assists — Luke Evangelista (11)
Points — Filip Forsberg (17)
GF/GP — 2.48 (22nd)
GA/GP — 3.65 (30th)
PP% — 16.7% (22nd)
PK% — 80.6% (16th)
FOW% — 52.5% (9th)
How To Watch, Listen, & Game Info
Nashville Predators (7-12-4, 18 points) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (10-8-5, 25 points)
7:00 p.m. CT — United Center
Head Coaches — Andrew Brunette (NSH), Jeff Blashill (CHI)
TV/Stream: CHSN (Ball/Granato), FDSNSO
Radio: WGN 720 AM (Wiedeman/Konroyd)
For more Blackhawks news, visit Chicago Hockey Now and like our Facebook Page.
Follow us on X: