Chicago Blackhawks vs Montreal Canadiens 24 October 2026 Prediction

Chicago Blackhawks vs Montreal Canadiens brings together two teams coming off losses. Chicago hosts Montreal after losing both meetings last season. A win would move either team closer to a playoff spot in its conference.

Chicago Blackhawks: Recent Form

After a poor start, Chicago won consecutive home games against Pittsburgh (5-3) and Winnipeg (4-3 in overtime). That run ended with a 4-0 home loss to Dallas. The Stars outshot the Blackhawks 32-19, even though Chicago trailed for most of the game.

The Blackhawks have six points through nine games. Their 21 goals rank among the three lowest totals in the Western Conference. Chicago has also converted just 12.5% of its power plays, the third-lowest rate in the NHL.

Chicago Blackhawks Predicted Lineup: Knight (Soderblom) — Vlasic, Cole — Kantserov, Bedard, Kane

Other Players on the Roster: Defensemen: Kaiser, Levshunov, Rinzel, Del Mastro; forwards: Bertuzzi, Frondell, Teravainen, Donato, Nazar, Moore, Smith, Greene, Greenway

Injury Report: Mangiapane (out), Byram (questionable)

Manager: Jeff Blashill

Montreal Canadiens: Recent Form

Four of Montreal’s last five games have gone beyond regulation. Its two most recent games ended in overtime: a 4-3 home win over Buffalo and a 4-3 home loss to San Jose. The Canadiens led the Sharks 3-1 after two periods.

Montreal allowed two power-play goals against San Jose and again failed to score with the man advantage. The Canadiens have converted 13.8% of their power plays this season, the sixth-lowest rate in the league. They have 10 points through nine games and remain outside the Eastern Conference playoff spots.

Montreal Canadiens Predicted Lineup: Dobes (Fowler) — Hutson, Dobson — Caufield, Suzuki, Slafkovsky

Other Players on the Roster: Defensemen: Carrier, Guhle, A. Xhekaj, Engstrom; forwards: Kreider, Newhook, Anderson, Bolduc, Danault, Texier, Dach, Evans, Kapanen

Injury Report: Demidov, Montembeault and F. Xhekaj (out); Matheson (questionable)

Manager: Martin St. Louis

Head-to-Head Results

Montreal won both meetings last season. Kaiden Guhle scored the deciding goal with 15 seconds left in regulation in a 3-2 road win. The Canadiens then won 4-1 at home, with Zachary Bolduc scoring twice. Montreal outshot Chicago 35-15 in that game.

Key Stats

Chicago allows 3.8 expected goals per game. Only Vancouver has a worse mark.

Montreal averages 28.8 shots per game, 10th in the NHL.

Chicago has lost the second period in four of its last five games.

Chicago Blackhawks vs Montreal Canadiens Prediction: Montreal Canadiens Moneyline at 1.73

Main prediction: Montreal has won three of its last four road games against Chicago and three of its last five games overall. The Blackhawks have lost two of their last four at home. The pick is Montreal Canadiens moneyline at 1.73. A 4-2 Montreal win is the correct-score pick.

Goals prediction: None of the last four meetings produced more than six goals in regulation. Montreal’s last five games averaged 5.4 regulation goals, while four of Chicago’s last six stayed at six or fewer. The additional pick is under 6.5 goals at 1.60.