- 1 Chicago Blackhawks vs Montreal Canadiens: Montreal favored without Suzuki, Demidov or Montembeault
- 2 Chicago Blackhawks: 32nd in shots, but a goalie with a .903 career mark
- 3 Montreal Canadiens: three straight losses and a .857 save percentage
- 4 Free NHL Prediction: Chicago Blackhawks vs Montreal Canadiens
- 5 About our free predictions
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information changes
- 8 Your responsibility
- 9 Responsible gambling
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About visuals
Chicago Blackhawks vs Montreal Canadiens: Montreal favored without Suzuki, Demidov or Montembeault 
Nick Suzuki is out with an upper-body injury, Ivan Demidov with a lower-body injury, and Samuel Montembeault is also out with a lower-body problem. That’s Montreal’s top center, one of its leading young forwards and a starting-caliber goaltender, all missing for a road game in Chicago.
The Canadiens have also lost three straight, the latest a 4-3 defeat to San Jose in which they scored three goals on 34 shots. They’re 4-3-2 and have allowed 34 goals in nine games, with a team save percentage of .857.
Chicago’s start has been worse on paper. The Blackhawks are 3-6, scored 21 goals in nine games and were shut out 4-0 by Dallas in their last outing, with 19 shots on goal and four power plays that came up empty.
Puck drop at the United Center is 8:00pm ET. Montreal are road favorites at 1.76 on the moneyline, with Chicago at 2.20, and the total is 6.5.
We think the injury list matters more than the standings here. A Canadiens team without Suzuki and Demidov has lost three in a row, and the price hasn’t moved far enough to reflect it.
The recent head-to-head is tight. Montreal won both meetings in 2026, but Chicago covered the puck line in each of them and both went under the total, so neither was decided by more than a goal.
Chicago Blackhawks: 32nd in shots, but a goalie with a .903 career mark 
The Blackhawks have taken 193 shots in nine games, the fewest in the league, and they’ve allowed 275. That imbalance is the main reason they’re 3-6, and Dallas exposed it again with a 4-0 shutout.
The finishing has held up better than the volume. Chicago shoot 10.88%, and 18 of their 21 goals have come at even strength. The power play is 3-for-24, 12.5%, and the penalty kill sits at 74.1%.
Spencer Knight is the expected starter. He has a .903 career save percentage across 157 appearances and a 71-62-20 record, and he’s the steadier of the two goalies likely to play on Friday.
Ryan Ellis (back) and Andrew Mangiapane (lower body) are out, and Bowen Byram is questionable with an upper-body injury. Losing Byram would leave the blue line thin against a Montreal team that has taken 267 shots, far more than Chicago.
Chicago are 2-3 in their last five, with three of those five going over the total. They won the only meeting with Montreal in 2025.
no renewal
Free for 2 weeks.
Montreal Canadiens: three straight losses and a .857 save percentage 
Montreal have scored 28 goals, 18th in the league, and allowed 34. At even strength it’s 24 for and 26 against, so the problem isn’t only special teams.
The penalty kill has been busy. Opponents have had 37 power plays against Montreal, sixth-most in the NHL, and scored eight times. The Canadiens’ own power play is 4-for-29, 13.8%.
Jakub Dobes is set to start with Montembeault out. He’s 37-16-9 across 64 career games with a .899 save percentage and a 2.89 goals-against average, numbers that are fine but not a fix for a .857 team mark.
The injury list goes beyond Suzuki and Demidov. Lucas Condotta, Bryce Pickford and Florian Xhekaj are out, and Mike Matheson is questionable with a lower-body injury. If Matheson sits, Pickford’s absence leaves Montreal two defensemen short.
All three games in the losing streak have gone over the total. Montreal are 1-2 as underdogs this season, but on Friday they’re the favorite, a role this depleted lineup hasn’t earned.
Probable lineup Chicago Blackhawks: Spencer Knight in goal; skaters not announced at time of publication
Probable lineup Montreal Canadiens: Jakub Dobes in goal; skaters not announced at time of publication
Free NHL Prediction: Chicago Blackhawks vs Montreal Canadiens
Our prediction: Chicago Blackhawks to win (2.20)
We’re taking Chicago at home. Montreal are missing Suzuki, Demidov and Montembeault, they’ve lost three in a row, and they’ve allowed 3.8 goals per game behind a .857 save percentage.
Chicago’s shot numbers are the strongest point for the Canadiens, and the 4-0 loss to Dallas showed how quiet this offense can be. Against a team allowing 34 goals in nine games, though, the Blackhawks’ 10.9% finishing has more to work with.
Both 2026 meetings were one-goal games, and Knight is the better of the two likely starters. At 2.20, a home team in a coin-flip game against a lineup this short is the side we’d back.
in your pocket.
Real-time notifications & alerts
_________
About our free predictions
- What we publish on MathOdds are analyses, nothing more. We share a view, a reading of the moment, but never a guarantee. Sport remains what it is: unpredictable. A red card, an injury, a last-minute goal, and the script changes completely.
- Let’s be clear: there is no such thing as a risk-free bet. Even when it looks “obvious”, nothing ever is. And yes, that means you can lose. It’s even inevitable at some point.
- The smartest approach is to stay reasonable. Bet small, set a budget and stick to it. Never use money you need to live on. And above all: don’t chase your losses: that rarely ends well.
- A bet should remain a game, not a job or a source of income. If it starts taking up too much space in your daily life, causes stress or frustration, take a break. And if needed, talk to a support organisation: that’s what they’re there for.
- Ultimately, responsibility lies with you. Reading our content means accepting that risk exists and will never disappear, no matter how good the analysis.
- Essential reminder: gambling is prohibited for minors and must comply with the laws of your country. Need help? Visit begambleaware.org.
No commitment from us
Our predictions carry no contractual value. They have no legal standing. In short: you cannot rely on them to claim anything if a bet doesn’t come through.
Information changes
A prediction is always based on what we know at the time of writing. But between publication and kick-off, a lineup can change, a player picks up an injury, the weather turns, and the analysis can quickly be outdated. We cannot be held responsible for that.
Your responsibility
Before placing a bet, simply check that gambling is legal in your country. If it isn’t, that’s your responsibility, not ours.
Responsible gambling
We can’t say it enough: gamble responsibly. If you’re struggling to stay in control, don’t wait to seek help.
Legal age
MathOdds content is intended for adults only. By browsing here, you confirm you meet the legal age requirement for gambling in your jurisdiction.
About visuals
The images and logos of Chicago Blackhawks and Montreal Canadiens on MathOdds are used solely to illustrate our articles. They do not imply any official affiliation with a federation or sports organisation, and we claim no rights over them. Those rights belong to their original owners. If any visual raises a concern, contact us and it will be removed without delay.
Leave a Reply