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The Washington Capitals<\/a> face the Chicago Blackhawks<\/a> in an NHL game on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026 (1\/9\/26) at United Center in Chicago, Ill.<\/p>\n How to watch<\/p>\n Here are your best options to watch the game if you don\u2019t already have cable: <\/p>\n Watch for free with a trial of DIRECTV<\/a> or FuboTV<\/a>. Streaming platform Free trialMonthly priceDiscount DIRECTV<\/a>Yes$89.99$35 off your first monthFuboTV<\/a>Yes$84.99$30 off your first month<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what you need to know: <\/p>\n What: NHL regular season <\/p>\n Who: Capitals vs. Blackhawks<\/p>\n When: Jan. 9, 2026 (1\/9\/26) <\/p>\n Time: 8 p.m. ET <\/p>\n Where: United Center<\/p>\n TV: NHL Network <\/p>\n Live stream: DIRECTV<\/a> (free trial), FuboTV<\/a><\/p>\n Here\u2019s an NHL story via the Associated Press: <\/p>\n CHICAGO (AP) \u2014 Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard is back after missing 12 games with a right shoulder injury.<\/p>\n Bedard has been cleared to play on Friday night against Washington. The 20-year-old center participated in the team\u2019s morning skate ahead of the matchup with the Capitals.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s obviously a huge boost,\u201d assistant coach Mike Vellucci said. \u201cHe\u2019s a big part of our team and he was playing really well before he got injured. We\u2019re excited to have him back.\u201d<\/p>\n While Bedard is set to return, the Blackhawks could be missing a couple key players against the Capitals because of an illness going around the team. Captain Nick Foligno, forward Ilya Mikheyev, backup goaltender Arvid Soderblom and coach Jeff Blashill missed the morning skate.<\/p>\n Bedard got hurt on a draw with 0.8 seconds left in a 3-2 loss<\/a> at St. Louis on Dec. 12. He ranked among the NHL leaders with 19 goals and 25 assists in 31 games at the time of the injury.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel good,\u201d Bedard said. \u201cObviously it\u2019s no fun kind of waiting and not being able to play. So it\u2019s exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n Bedard and fellow center Frank Nazar were shelved during a stretch of 10 losses in 12 games for Chicago. But the Blackhawks have flourished of late, winning a season-high four in a row going into the Washington game.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s an exciting time and for us just to keep that rolling and obviously keep stacking wins because every game\u2019s so important,\u201d Bedard said.<\/p>\n Nazar, who turns 22 on Wednesday, is skating again, but there has been no word on when he might return to the lineup. He was hit in the face by a puck<\/a> during a 6-4 loss at Ottawa on Dec. 20.<\/p>\n Bedard was selected by Chicago with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft. He missed part of his rookie season with a broken jaw<\/a>, but he played in all 82 games last year.<\/p>\n \u201cNo one wants to have anything happen, but it\u2019s part of the game,\u201d Bedard said. \u201cYou just got to try to take that time to get better.\u201d<\/p>\n