The Florida Panthers visit the Chicago Blackhawks for a Sunday matinee at the United Center, and this Panthers vs. Blackhawks prediction starts in the crease. Florida is a -185 moneyline favorite, and the total sits at 6.0 after opening at 6.5. Both clubs arrive on two-game losing streaks. However, they took very different routes to get there. Below, we break down the goaltending matchup, the market movement and the two plays we like most for this game.
Last Updated: October 25, 2026
Florida Panthers vs. Chicago Blackhawks — Game Info
| Where | United Center, Chicago Illinois |
| When | October 25 – 3:00 PM ET |
| TV | CHSN, Scripps Sports |
Florida Panthers vs. Chicago Blackhawks Betting Preview
Florida turns to Akira Schmid, and the projected lineups list Schmid as the Panthers’ starter. He gets the net with Jacob Markstrom on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. Schmid is 2-2-1 with an .867 save percentage in five appearances. That is a soft number, and it is the biggest worry on the Florida side. Rookie Cooper Black backs him up after making 18 saves in his NHL debut Thursday in Pittsburgh.
Chicago has not named its starter. Spencer Knight has started the last five games and is 3-5-0 with an .888 save percentage. Arvid Soderblom could get the call instead, and he is 0-2-0 with an .820 mark. A Knight start would put him against the franchise that traded him to Chicago in March 2025. That deal sent Seth Jones to Florida. Treat the read below as provisional on Knight starting. A Soderblom start would strengthen the Florida side and cut against the under.
Florida is 5-4-2, scoring 2.82 goals per game and allowing 3.09. The Panthers won three straight with 18 goals before this road trip. Since then, they have dropped two in a row, including a 4-0 shutout in Pittsburgh. Aleksander Barkov and Brad Marchand remain out. Still, Matthew Tkachuk has 21 points in 21 career games against Chicago, and Florida had Friday and Saturday off to reset. For more on the start of this trip, see our Panthers vs. Senators prediction.
Chicago is 3-7-0, scoring 2.20 goals per game and allowing 4.00. The Blackhawks are 3-3 at home and 0-4 on the road. Meanwhile, they have scored once in their last two games, a 4-0 loss to Dallas and a 4-1 loss to Montreal. Chicago’s power play is converting 10.3% of its chances, which runs into an 82.6% Florida penalty kill. Defenseman Bowen Byram remains out with an upper-body injury. Our Canadiens vs. Blackhawks prediction covers Friday’s setup.
Neither team is on a back-to-back. Florida played in Ottawa on Wednesday and in Pittsburgh on Thursday, with Black starting the second game of that set. The Panthers then had two full days before Sunday. Chicago last played Friday against Montreal and had Saturday to rest. As a result, the schedule spot is close to neutral, and Schmid should be rested. The bigger travel factor sits ahead of Florida, with a stop in Winnipeg on Tuesday to close the trip.
Florida swept last season’s two meetings, including a 5-1 win at the United Center on January 25. This is the first of two meetings this season, with the rematch set for November 4 at Amerant Bank Arena.
Florida Panthers vs. Chicago Blackhawks Odds
| Puck Line | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panthers | -1.5 (+137) | -185 | O 6.0 (-125) |
| Blackhawks | +1.5 (-163) | +160 | U 6.0 (+105) |
Odds accurate as of October 25, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NHL Odds – Futures – Props
Panthers vs. Blackhawks Prediction — Chicago Has Lost Six Games by Three or More Goals
Chicago’s losses have not been close. Six of its seven defeats have come by three goals or more, and the only one-goal loss was 4-3 in Buffalo. That shapes how to back Florida. At -185, the moneyline carries a 64.9% break-even rate. In contrast, the -1.5 price at +137 needs only 42.2%, though it requires a two-goal margin.
The market has moved in two directions at once. Florida’s moneyline shortened from -177 to -185 since the open. Meanwhile, its -1.5 price drifted from +125 to +137. The total falling from 6.5 to 6.0 fits that split, since fewer projected goals mean fewer multi-goal margins. Empty-net goals also matter here. A Chicago team trailing by one late will pull its goaltender, and a one-goal game routinely becomes a two-goal game in the final minute.
The case against is real. Florida’s wins have been tight, with three of its five decided by one goal and two of those in overtime. Schmid’s .867 save percentage also leaves little margin for a soft goal. If Knight is sharp against his former team, Chicago can keep this within one. Even so, a Blackhawks attack scoring 2.20 goals per game gives Florida room for error. The edge here is a lean, not a sure read.
The Pick: Panthers Puck Line -1.5 (+137)
Panthers vs. Blackhawks Prediction — Why Did This Total Fall a Half Goal Overnight?
The total opened at 6.5 with the Under at -125. It now sits at 6.0 with the Under at +105. That half-goal drop lines up with what Chicago has shown at the offensive end. The Blackhawks have scored one goal across their last two games and have been shut out twice this season. Florida, for its part, was blanked in its most recent game.
Florida’s own scoring has swung widely. The Panthers scored eight against Seattle and seven in Columbus. However, they have scored one goal or fewer in four of their 11 games. Chicago’s defense gives up chances, yet Florida’s offense has not been consistent without Barkov and Marchand. Discipline also helps the under case here. With Chicago’s power play at 10.3%, Florida’s trips to the box carry less cost than usual.
This read shares an input with the first pick, since both rest on Chicago struggling to score. A 4-1 or 3-1 Florida win cashes both. The risk is the goaltending. Neither likely starter is above .890, and Chicago allows 4.00 goals per game. The full-game total also includes overtime and the shootout, so a tie after 60 minutes adds at least one goal. A final landing on exactly six is a push.
The Pick: Under 6.0 (+105)
Our Final Word on Panthers vs. Blackhawks
This matchup sets a deep Florida forward group against a Chicago team that has struggled to generate offense or keep losses close. The open question is Chicago’s crease, so confirm the starter before puck drop. A Soderblom start would tilt the side further toward Florida, while a hot Knight is the main path to a tight game.
Panthers -1.5 on the puck line at +137 is our top play, because six of Chicago’s seven losses came by three goals or more. Under 6.0 at +105 is our second play, backed by a Chicago attack averaging just 2.20 goals per game.
NHL Panthers vs. Blackhawks FAQ: October 25, 2026
What time does the Panthers vs. Blackhawks game start?
The Panthers vs. Blackhawks game starts at 3:00 PM ET on Sunday, October 25, 2026, which is 2:00 PM local time in Chicago. It is an afternoon matinee at the United Center in Chicago. It is the first of two meetings between the clubs this season, with the rematch set for November 4 in Sunrise.
What channel is the Panthers vs. Blackhawks game on?
The game airs on CHSN in the Chicago market and on Scripps Sports in the Florida market. Those are the two regional broadcasts for Sunday’s matinee. Local viewers in each market should tune to their team’s home channel for puck drop at 3:00 PM ET.
Who is starting in goal for the Panthers?
Akira Schmid is starting in goal for the Panthers against Chicago. He takes the net with Jacob Markstrom on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. Schmid is 2-2-1 this season in five appearances, and rookie Cooper Black, who made his NHL debut Thursday in Pittsburgh, serves as the backup.
Who won the last meeting between the Panthers and Blackhawks?
The Panthers won the last meeting 5-1 at the United Center on January 25, 2026. That victory completed Florida’s sweep of last season’s two-game series. Sunday’s game in Chicago opens this season’s two-game set, with the rematch scheduled for November 4 in Sunrise. Sunday’s game opens this season’s two-game set between the clubs.
What are the Panthers’ and Blackhawks’ records this season?
The Panthers are 5-4-2 and the Blackhawks are 3-7-0 entering Sunday’s game. Both teams have lost two straight. Florida is 3-3-2 on the road this season, while Chicago is 3-3 at home and 0-4 on the road. Florida sits on a four-game road trip that continues in Winnipeg on Tuesday.
Where are the Panthers and Blackhawks playing?
The Panthers and Blackhawks are playing at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The arena sits on Chicago’s Near West Side. It is the third stop on Florida’s four-game road trip, and the teams meet again on November 4 at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.