Stephanie: They’re down four goals. They’ve been shut out in back-to-back games. And yet, Connor Bedard is still looking for that spark. Tonight, we break down exactly how Chicago can stop the bleeding against Montreal.
Sean: It’s a tough spot to be in, Steph. A 4-0 loss to Dallas highlighted some serious structural issues, but also some individual brilliance from their opponent that we need to dissect.
Stephanie: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network, where we live for the game. I’m Stephanie, and this is your daily Blackhawks preview. Joining me as always is Sean, our resident analyst who knows more about zone entries than most general managers.
Sean: Good to be here, Steph. It’s going to be a deep dive into tonight’s matchup with the Montreal Canadiens.
Stephanie: Here is what we are covering today. First, we’ll look at the biggest storylines heading into this interconference clash between the 3-6 Blackhawks and the 4-3-2 Canadiens. Second, we’ll talk roster moves, injuries, and which centers might see ice time tonight. And finally, we’ll give you our keys to victory and a bold prediction for the score.
Sean: We’ve got a lot to unpack after that shutout loss to the Stars. Let’s get into it.
Stephanie: Okay, let’s start with the matchup. Chicago sits at 3-6, 13th in the West. Montreal is 4-3-2 in the Atlantic. This isn’t just another Central Division grind; it’s an interconference test. What stands out to you about the Canadiens right now?
Sean: Well, they’re not perfect either. But they have experience. We saw Dallas come in and completely neutralize Chicago on Saturday. Arttu Hyry scored twice, Jason Robertson had assists, and Jake Oettinger posted his third shutout of the season. That’s a very structured team.
Stephanie: Right. And Oettinger made 19 saves. So if Chicago plays like they did against Dallas—letting teams dump and chase without pressure—they’re going to get shut out again. Do you think the coaching staff makes any changes to the forecheck?
Sean: I hope so. The neutral-zone play was non-existent last night. You couldn’t force turnovers. When you don’t control the neutral zone, you’re just waiting for the other team to score. Montreal is tricky because they move the puck well in the offensive zone. If Chicago doesn’t tighten up their defensive structure, it’s going to be a long night.
Stephanie: That brings us back to something we talked about yesterday. Spencer Knight has been struggling. He’s facing a lot of traffic. Do you think there’s any pressure on him to sit this one out? Or do you stick with the starter?
Sean: I think they stick with Knight. As we predicted, he remains the starter. You don’t bench your goalie after one bad game unless things are catastrophic. But he needs to clean up his rebound control. Against a team like Montreal, loose pucks in the crease are fatal.
Stephanie: Agreed. So, no change in net. But the rest of the team needs to support him. Let’s talk about the offense. Patrick Kane is chasing history, but the line combinations are shifting. Who do you expect to see leading the charge tonight?
Sean: Connor Bedard is the engine. He’s getting the ice time. But around him, it’s messy. We have Teuvo Teravainen, Frank Nazar, Oliver Moore, Ryan Donato, Anton Frondell... it’s an overcrowded center depth chart. Someone is going to have to step up.
Stephanie: And then there are the wingers. Tyler Bertuzzi, Jordan Greenway, Andrew Mangiapane... wait, Mangiapane is on IR? That hurts the top-six flexibility.
Sean: Exactly. Mangiapane is on Injured Reserve. Matt Duchene is also on IR. Luke Krys is on IR. Oskar Back is on IR. The injury list is brutal. It forces younger players like Nick Lardis or Cole Smith into bigger roles.
Stephanie: So, less chemistry, more improvisation. That’s a recipe for disaster if the structure isn’t there. Let’s pivot to Segment 2. We need to talk about those key players and the specific line matchups that could decide this game.
Sean: Let’s start with the defense pairings. Bowen Byram is day-to-day. Esa Lindell is out. That leaves Ian Cole, Ethan Del Mastro, Kevin Korchinski, Alex Vlasic, Artyom Levshunov, Wyatt Kaiser, Sam Rinzel, and Ryan Ellis.
Stephanie: Wow. That’s a lot of bodies. Ryan Ellis is playing? He’s a defenseman for Chicago now? That’s a huge move by the front office.
Sean: He is. And it shows how desperate they are for veteran presence on the blue line. With Lindell out and Byram questionable, Ellis might have to log heavy minutes. If he can’t handle the physicality of Montreal’s forwards, Chicago’s penalty kill will suffer.
Stephanie: Speaking of the penalty kill, how effective has that been recently? We saw Dallas exploit them easily. Arttu Hyry scored twice partly because of space created by turnovers.
Sean: It’s been porous. The gap between the defensemen and the forwards was too wide. You have to close those gaps. Radek Faksa is day-to-day, which helps the penalty kill when he’s healthy because he’s a shutdown center. But if he’s out, you’re relying on smaller players to block shots and take away passing lanes.
Stephanie: So, if Faksa is out, who takes the faceoffs against Montreal’s top lines? Frank Nazar? Oliver Moore? They’re young. High skill, but maybe not enough grit for a defensive assignment like that.
Sean: That’s the risk. We mentioned yesterday that veterans might get scratched. But if they scratch everyone, you lose experience. It’s a catch-22. I think they’ll go with Nazar or Moore, but they need to be aggressive on the boards.
Stephanie: Let’s talk about the power play. With all these injuries, do you expect Chicago to run a different setup? Maybe putting more shooters on the point?
Sean: They have to. The PP has been stagnant. You need movement. Bedard at the top, maybe Teravainen in the circle. But if the entry is weak, it doesn’t matter. Zone entries were terrible against Dallas. Too many dump-ins with no support.
Stephanie: Okay, so we know the problems. Now, who is the hero? Is it Bedard carrying the load? Or does someone unexpected step up? Like Roman Kantserov or even Patrick Kane making a difference?
Sean: Kane is chasing history, yes. But Bedard is the present. He’s getting the puck. The question is, does he have help? If Monty puts two defenders on him every shift, he can’t do it alone. He needs Nazar or Moore to make smart reads in the slot.
Stephanie: I’m worried about the goaltending tandem though. Spencer Knight vs. Arvid Soderblom. If Knight gets pulled, does Soderblom have the confidence to keep the lead? Or does he panic?
Sean: Soderblom hasn’t seen much action. If Knight goes down, it’s a huge swing. But I doubt they pull him unless he’s completely lost. They’ll ride him until the end. It’s all about shot blocking. If Chicago stops the rebounds, Knight looks good. If they don’t, it’s chaos.
Stephanie: Chaos is the last thing Chicago needs right now. Alright, we’re coming up on a break. Stay tuned. We’re going to wrap up with our keys to victory and a bold prediction. Don’t go anywhere.
Stephanie: Welcome back. Sean, let’s get straight to it. Keys to victory. What does Chicago need to do to beat Montreal tonight?
Sean: Number one: Win the neutral zone. No more easy zone entries for Montreal. Force them to cycle. Number two: Protect the net. Rebounds are suicide. Number three: Get a goal early. If you trail by one, the pressure mounts.
Stephanie: Solid advice. And your bold prediction? We said last time they’d win 3-2 or 4-3 despite poor structure. Do you stand by that?
Sean: I’m sticking with it. I think Bedard scores twice, and the defense cleans up enough to secure a narrow win. Maybe 3-2. It’s ugly, but it’s a win.
Stephanie: A gritty 3-2 win. I like it. Before we go, we want to ask for your help. This show is completely free, with zero ads and no paywall. Your support keeps us independent and allows us to bring you this analysis every single day. If you value what we do, please consider chipping in via the link in the episode description.
Sean: It really means a lot. It helps us keep the quality high and the coverage consistent. Thank you for listening.
Stephanie: Thanks for tuning in to the Beatline Podcast Network. Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen. Go Hawks!