Our Blackhawks vs. Bruins prediction starts in goal, where Jeremy Swayman projects to face Spencer Knight in a Halloween matinee at TD Garden. Boston is a -240 moneyline favorite with the total sitting at 6.0. The Bruins have dropped two straight, while Chicago has lost four of its last five. Below, we break down the goaltending, the market and the two plays we like most for Saturday afternoon.
Last Updated: October 31, 2026
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Boston Bruins — Game Info
| Where | TD Garden, Boston MA |
| When | October 31 – 1:00 PM ET |
| TV | NESN, CHSN |
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Boston Bruins Betting Preview
The goaltending matchup is the first thing to settle, and neither starter is confirmed yet. Daily Faceoff lists Swayman and Knight as the projected starters, both still unconfirmed Saturday morning. Treat everything below as provisional until the morning skate settles it.
Swayman is 7-3-1 with a 2.35 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage. Those are strong numbers, but his recent window is softer. He sat at .934 with a 6-1-0 record as of October 20, which means he is 1-2-1 since. Boston backs him with the second-stingiest defense in the league at 2.29 goals allowed per game.
Knight is 4-7-0 with a 3.21 goals-against average and an .897 save percentage. However, his raw numbers undersell the job he is doing. He has faced 340 shots already, and Chicago allows 30.3 per game, 27th in the league. He made 27 saves in Thursday’s loss in Detroit and gets little help in front of him.
The Bruins are 9-4-1 with 19 points through 14 games. David Pastrnak has 18 points in 14 games, and Boston scores 3.57 goals per game. Still, the attack has cooled. Boston scored once in Thursday’s 4-1 loss in St. Louis and ranks 23rd in shots per game at 25.9. The Bruins report no injuries.
Chicago is 4-9-0 and sits near the bottom of the Western Conference. The Blackhawks score just 2.08 goals per game and average 21.6 shots, both 31st in the league. Their power play converts 10.00% of chances, which ranks last. Connor Bedard scored the lone goal in a 4-1 loss to the Red Wings on Thursday. Defenseman Ryan Ellis is out for the season, and Bowen Byram is day-to-day with an upper-body injury after missing Thursday.
Both teams played Thursday and neither played Friday, so rest is even. Boston also won the last meeting, 5-2 in Chicago on January 17. For more on the Hawks’ recent form, see our Blackhawks vs. Red Wings prediction.
The market has leaned toward Boston since the open. The Bruins opened at -230 on the moneyline and now sit at -240. Their puck line price has shortened from +117 to +110. That move runs with the 65% of puck-line tickets on Boston, so it reads as the book following popular money. On its own, it carries little sharp signal.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Boston Bruins Odds
| Puck Line | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackhawks | +1.5 (-130) | +200 | O 6.0 (-115) |
| Bruins | -1.5 (+110) | -240 | U 6.0 (-105) |
Odds accurate as of October 31, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NHL Odds – Futures – Props
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Boston Bruins — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Blackhawks | 35% | 65% | Bruins |
See the latest NHL Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Blackhawks vs. Bruins Prediction — Can the League’s Last-Ranked Power Play Keep Pace in Boston?
The central question is how Chicago scores enough to keep this within a goal. The Blackhawks are bottom-two in goals and shots, and their power play is last at 10.00%. Meanwhile, Swayman and the Boston defense have allowed the second-fewest goals in the league. In contrast, Boston’s offense has more ways to break through against a Chicago blue line missing Ellis and possibly Byram.
The price makes the margin worth chasing. A -240 moneyline implies about a 70.6% win chance, which leaves little room for value. The two-goal line pays plus money and breaks even at 47.6%. The empty net matters here too. If Chicago trails by one late, Knight heads to the bench and the margin often stretches. The Bruins are also 9-0-0 this season when they score more than two goals, per one game preview.
The case against is real. Boston has dropped two straight, scored once on Thursday and generates modest shot volume. Swayman has cooled since mid-October, and his start is still unconfirmed. The market has moved toward Boston from the open, in line with 65% of puck-line tickets, so it adds little confirmation. The price has also shortened from the opener. Call this a lean rather than a strong play.
The Pick: Bruins -1.5 (+110)
Blackhawks vs. Bruins Prediction — Does a 340-Shot Workload Meet a Low-Volume Boston Attack?
Build the total from the crease out. Swayman projects as the better goaltender, and he faces the league’s 31st-ranked shot attack. Boston’s 25.9 shots per game also keeps Knight’s workload more manageable than usual. Neither power play is a major threat, with Chicago last and Boston 16th. That profile points to a lower-event game than the number suggests, and a 6.0 line also gives a push on exactly six.
Chicago’s recent scoring backs up the season numbers. The Blackhawks have scored five goals across their last three games, losing 3-2 to Florida, beating Los Angeles 2-1 and falling 4-1 in Detroit. All three of those games finished with five or fewer total goals. Boston’s own loss in St. Louis landed at five.
On the other hand, Knight’s .897 save percentage leaves room for a Boston breakout, and empty-net goals push totals up. The over also ticked from -112 to -115 since the open, a small move against this read. This play leans on the same weak Chicago offense as the first pick, so the two are not independent. The edge here is thinner.
The Pick: Under 6.0 (-105)
Our Final Word on Blackhawks vs. Bruins
Confirm both goaltenders before betting, since a backup in either crease changes both reads. For more on Boston earlier this season, check our Bruins vs. Ducks prediction. We like the Bruins -1.5 at +110 because Chicago’s last-ranked power play and 31st-ranked offense struggle to keep games within a goal. We also like the Under 6.0 at -105 because Swayman faces one of the league’s lowest-volume shot attacks.
NHL Blackhawks vs. Bruins FAQ: October 31, 2026
What time does the Blackhawks vs. Bruins game start?
The Blackhawks vs. Bruins game starts at 1:00 PM ET on Saturday, October 31, 2026. It is a Halloween afternoon matinee at TD Garden in Boston, with both teams playing on one day of rest after games on Thursday night.
What channel is the Blackhawks vs. Bruins game on?
The game airs on NESN in the Bruins’ home market and on CHSN, the Chicago Sports Network, in the Blackhawks’ market. NESN carries the Boston broadcast of the 1:00 PM ET puck drop.
Where are the Blackhawks and Bruins playing?
The Blackhawks and Bruins play at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Boston is the home team for this Saturday afternoon game, while Chicago arrives after a Thursday night loss in Detroit.
Who won the last meeting between the Blackhawks and Bruins?
Boston won the last meeting 5-2 in Chicago on January 17, 2026.
Where do the Blackhawks and Bruins stand in the standings?
The Bruins are 9-4-1 with 19 points entering Saturday, among the top teams in the Eastern Conference. The Blackhawks are 4-9-0 with eight points and sit near the bottom of the Western Conference after losing four of their last five games.