The Montreal Canadiens begin a four-game road trip as they visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday, Oct. 23. This marks the first meeting between these two young and exciting clubs this season.
My Canadiens vs. Blackhawks predictions suggest some statistical correction for an unlucky Canadiens team through their first nine games, with Lane Hutson stepping up in the absence of his captain.
Read on for my NHL picks for tonight’s matchup.
TOP PICK
Canadiens vs Blackhawks prediction: Canadiens -1.5
The Blackhawks rank bottom-three in the NHL in most offensive and defensive stats — goals scored, shots on goal, power play, faceoff percentage, goals allowed, and shots allowed.
And while the Habs’ 3.78 goals allowed per game ranks 29th, their underlying numbers suggest a bit of regression to the mean, especially if Jacob Fowler gets the nod in goal over a struggling Jakub Dobes. Their 2.64 xGA/60 at 5-on-5 ranks 16th, while the Hawks rank 31st at 3.29.
Yes, the Canadiens will hit the ice without Nick Suzuki for the first time since 2019, but this is still a lopsided matchup.
COVERS INTEL: The Canadiens sport the fifth-best 5-on-5 xGF/60 at 3.12 this season, and they rank eighth in the NHL in 5-on-5 xGF since January 1.More NHL picks and predictions
- NHL picks today: free expert and computer picks for every game on the slate
- Panthers vs. Penguins prediction, picks and combo: our Thursday, Oct. 22 top pick
- NHL player prop picks and goal scorer predictions: Thursday, Oct. 22 props, including Dylan Guenther
- NHL player props and best projections: model-based props for today’s games
Canadiens vs Blackhawks combo
The Canadiens sport among the highest 5-on-5 xGF numbers in the NHL despite lackluster results, and their underlying defensive numbers at even strength suggest statistical correction. The Hawks are 3-6-0 and rank in the bottom three in nearly all major offensive and defensive metrics.
Lane Hutson is shooting more than ever, hitting his Over for shots in eight straight games while averaging over 26:00 of ice time per game.
Chicago is averaging a measly 21.4 shots per game (31st), and Tyler Bertuzzi has failed to record more than one shot in all but two games this season, totaling just 10 shots on goal. He’s only attempted 19 shots, so it’s not as though the volume has been there either.
Canadiens vs Blackhawks combo
- MTL -1.5
- Lane Hutson o1.5 shots
- Tyler Bertuzzi u1.5 shots
Canadiens vs Blackhawks player prop: Lane Hutson 2+ shots
Lane Hutson has recorded two or more shots on goal in eight consecutive games. He’s attempted 48 shots on goal in those eight games — the same volume as Connor Bedard but at a higher hit rate.
He’s on pace to shatter his career-high of 124 shots he set in 2025-26, and faces a Blackhawks team that ranks 29th in shots allowed, allowing 30.6 per game.
He’s also cleared 24:00 of ice time in 17 of his last 18 regular season games, averaging 26:23 a night.
Want more props for tonight? Check out our NHL player props and best projections.
Canadiens vs Blackhawks goal scorer: Cole Caufield
Cole Caufield has unsurprisingly been the NHL’s top goal scorer over the last two seasons.
He’s racked up four goals over a three-game goal streak, and now has six goals in nine games this season. He’s scored in 52.9% of regular season games since January 1 — a rate that trails only Leon Draisaitl.
He’s up against an extremely poor defensive team in Chicago tonight, and is priced at just 45%.
- Top picks: 9-9, +2.31 units
- Combos: 1-6, +1.52 units
Canadiens vs Blackhawks odds
For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.
- Moneyline: Canadiens 61% | Blackhawks 40%
- Over/Under: Over 6.5 (49%) | Under 6.5 (52%)
- Spread: Canadiens -1.5 (38%) | Blackhawks +1.5 (63%)
For the full slate of NHL matchups, check out our NHL odds board!
Canadiens vs Blackhawks trend
Montreal won both meetings last season and has won six of the last eight meetings overall. Find more NHL betting trends.
How to watch Canadiens vs Blackhawks
| Location | United Center, Chicago, Ill. |
| Date | Friday, Oct. 23, 2026 |
| Puck drop | 8 p.m. ET |
| TV | NHL Network, CHSN (U.S.) | TSN2, RDS (Canada) |
Canadiens vs Blackhawks latest injuries
Check out our NHL injuries page for updates on every team.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
