Our Canadiens vs Blackhawks prediction starts in goal. Montreal appears set to turn back to Jacob Fowler for Friday night at the United Center. The Canadiens are -155 on the moneyline after opening at -140, and the total sits at 6.5. Montreal arrives without captain Nick Suzuki, while Chicago comes off five days of rest and a 4-0 home loss to Dallas. Below, we break down the goaltending, the shot gap between these clubs and what the market is saying, then lay out two plays.
Last Updated: October 23, 2026
Montreal Canadiens vs. Chicago Blackhawks — Game Info
| Where | United Center, Chicago IL |
| When | October 23 – 8:00 PM ET |
| TV | NHL Network, CHSN, TSN2, RDS |
Montreal Canadiens vs. Chicago Blackhawks Betting Preview
Montreal had not confirmed a starter as of Thursday. However, Fowler is widely expected to get the net. Jakub Dobes was flagged for goaltender interference in overtime of Tuesday’s 4-3 loss to San Jose. Fowler is 3-1-0 with a .900 save percentage, a 2.16 GAA and a 30-save shutout of Detroit. Dobes sits at .847, and he had allowed five or more goals in three straight starts before Tuesday. Our read below is provisional on Fowler starting. A Dobes start would weaken the Montreal side and lift the total.
Chicago is projected to go back to Spencer Knight, who has started seven of nine games. He is 3-4-0 with an .888 save percentage and a 3.59 GAA, and he stopped 28 of 32 shots against Dallas. Backup Arvid Soderblom is 0-2-0 at .820, so Knight is clearly the better option. His start is also unconfirmed.
The Canadiens are 4-3-2 and the Blackhawks are 3-6-0. The bigger story is the shot gap. Montreal averages 29.7 shots per game, 10th in the league. Chicago averages 21.4, which ranks 31st, and allows 30.6. The Blackhawks also rank 30th in both goals scored (2.33) and goals allowed (4.00). Montreal has its own leaks, allowing 3.78 goals per game. San Jose’s comeback on Tuesday was the fourth time this season Montreal gave up a two-goal lead.
Special teams offer little. Montreal’s power play converts 13.8% (27th) and Chicago’s 12.5% (30th). The penalty kills sit at 78.4% and 74.1%. Suzuki is out two to four weeks with an upper-body injury, and Ivan Demidov remains sidelined. Meanwhile, Chicago has Connor Bedard back from shoulder surgery and is 2-1 since his October 13 return. Defenseman Bowen Byram is day-to-day after missing two games. On the schedule side, Montreal opens a four-game road trip here. It has Saturday off before Sunday’s outdoor game in Winnipeg, so this is not a back-to-back.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Chicago Blackhawks Odds
| Puck Line | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canadiens | -1.5 (+165) | -155 | O 6.5 (+102) |
| Blackhawks | +1.5 (-195) | +133 | U 6.5 (-122) |
Odds accurate as of October 23, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NHL Odds – Futures – Props
The market has moved toward Montreal. The moneyline opened at -140 and now sits at -155, with 80% of moneyline tickets on the Canadiens. That is movement with the public and carries little signal by itself. The puck line is more telling. Montreal -1.5 shortened from +180 to +165 even though 55% of puck line tickets are on Chicago. That is a modest case of reverse line movement on the margin. The total has not budged from 6.5.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Chicago Blackhawks — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Canadiens | 45% | 55% | Blackhawks |
See the latest NHL Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Canadiens vs. Blackhawks Prediction — Can a 21-Shot Offense Keep Pace With Montreal’s Starts?
The cleanest edge in this game is Montreal’s attack against Chicago’s defense, not Montreal’s ability to protect a lead. The Canadiens have scored in eight of nine games and found the net in the first period in seven. They have scored at least three goals seven times. Chicago, meanwhile, has allowed a first-period goal in eight of nine games and at least three goals in eight. The Blackhawks also generate barely 21 shots a night, so they rarely build the kind of pressure that flips an early game.
That makes this a read about which team gets to the early goals, not about who survives 60 minutes or wins a coin-flip overtime. Framing it that way sidesteps Montreal’s habit of letting games get away late, which has happened four times already. It also leans less on the unconfirmed goalie, because the outcome turns on the first few goals rather than the full night. The full-game price asks bettors to trust Montreal’s defense and its goaltending for three periods. This angle asks only that Montreal’s shot volume does what it has done all season.
Still, there is a real case against it. Losing Suzuki removes Montreal’s points leader, and the top line will look different without him. Chicago is rested, has Bedard back and has won two of three since his return. If Chicago scores twice early on a quiet Montreal night, the ticket is gone. There is no line history on this market, so the edge rests on research rather than market confirmation. We rate it a lean.
The Pick: Canadiens Regulation Time Race to 2 (-141)
Canadiens vs. Blackhawks Prediction — How Does Life Without Suzuki Start in Chicago?
The second angle asks whether Montreal can pull clear of a team scoring 2.33 goals per game. Chicago has been shut out twice and lost 4-0 to Dallas in its last outing. Montreal outshoots its opponents comfortably, and a team allowing 4.00 goals per game rarely keeps it close for 60 minutes. Empty-net goals matter here too. If Chicago trails by one late and pulls Knight, a one-goal game can quickly become a two-goal game. The market seems to agree, having drifted toward Montreal on the margin even though most tickets are on Chicago. However, that move has already taken some value off the opening number.
The risk is plain. Montreal’s defense has allowed 3.78 goals per game, and Suzuki’s absence thins the center depth. This play also leans on the same input as the first pick, Montreal’s attack against Chicago’s defense, so the two are not independent. Treat it as the higher-variance way to back the same read.
The Pick: Canadiens -1.5 (+165)
Our Final Word on Canadiens vs. Blackhawks
This game comes down to whether Chicago’s thin attack can keep up with Montreal’s volume. The NHL Network broadcast should give a wide audience a look at how the Canadiens adjust without their captain. Watch for goalie confirmations before puck drop, because a Dobes start would change the picture. For more on Montreal’s last outing, see our Sharks vs. Canadiens prediction, and for Chicago, our Jets vs. Blackhawks prediction.
Our top play is Canadiens Regulation Time Race to 2 at -141, since Montreal’s fast starts meet a Chicago team conceding first-period goals almost nightly. Our second play is Canadiens -1.5 at +165, backed by a two-goal number that has moved toward Montreal against the ticket count.
NHL Canadiens vs. Blackhawks FAQ: October 23, 2026
What time does the Canadiens vs. Blackhawks game start?
The Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks face off at 8:00 PM ET on Friday, October 23, 2026. That is 7:00 PM local time in Chicago. The game is the first stop on a four-game road trip for Montreal, which plays an outdoor game in Winnipeg on Sunday.
What channel is the Canadiens vs. Blackhawks game on?
Canadiens vs. Blackhawks airs on NHL Network and CHSN in the United States. In Canada, the game is on TSN2 and RDS. The NHL lists it among the nationally televised games for the week of October 19, with an 8:00 PM ET start.
Where are the Canadiens and Blackhawks playing?
The Canadiens and Blackhawks play at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. It is the fifth game of a seven-game homestand for the Blackhawks, who have been off since a 4-0 loss to Dallas on October 17. Montreal arrives after practicing at home on Thursday.
What are the Canadiens’ and Blackhawks’ records this season?
Montreal enters at 4-3-2 for 10 points after a 4-3 overtime loss to San Jose on Tuesday. Chicago is 3-6-0 for six points and has lost its last game. The Blackhawks rank 30th in goals scored per game, while the Canadiens rank 14th.
Is Nick Suzuki playing tonight?
No. Nick Suzuki will not play against Chicago. The Canadiens announced on October 22 that their captain is out two to four weeks with an upper-body injury suffered against San Jose. Montreal recalled forward Owen Beck from Laval as the corresponding move.