Montreal Canadiens vs Chicago Blackhawks Picks and Predictions for Friday October 23 2026
Chicago haven’t played since Saturday, when Dallas came into the United Center and beat them 4-0. Five days without a game is a long time to sit around thinking about a shutout loss. The Blackhawks had actually won two straight before that, beating Pittsburgh and Winnipeg. Then Dallas turned up and reminded them how much work they’ve still got to do.
Montreal have their own troubles. They lost 4-3 to San Jose on Tuesday, and they’ve been giving up goals at a rather alarming rate. I wouldn’t call either defense trustworthy right now. The difference is that Montreal have been getting more shots and finding the net more often.
The Canadiens visit the Blackhawks at the United Center in Chicago on Friday, October 23, 2026. Puck drop is at 8:00 PM ET, with coverage on NHL Network, CHSN, TSN2 and RDS. Montreal are around -163 on the moneyline, with the total available around 6 to 6.5 goals depending on the market. You can find more games in our free NHL picks.
Montreal Canadiens Have To Stop Giving Away Goals
Montreal are 4-3-2 after nine games, with ten points in the Atlantic Division. Their latest result was that 4-3 defeat against San Jose. Before that, they beat Buffalo 4-3 in overtime. There’s a pattern there, and it isn’t difficult to spot. Montreal can score, but they keep letting the other team hang around. They’ve scored 28 goals and conceded 34. That’s a lot of goals against for a club trying to establish itself in the playoff race.
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The Canadiens average a little over three goals per game, which should be enough to give Chicago trouble. They also put roughly 29 shots on net each night. Chicago are managing only about 21. That’s eight extra chances to test a goaltender, and over three periods it can make a real difference. What worries me about Montreal is the defense. They’re allowing nearly four goals per game themselves. Chicago haven’t been scoring much, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they got a couple Friday. Montreal have been generous enough to give almost anybody a chance.
Nick Suzuki has four goals and ten points through the early schedule, while Lane Hutson has eight points from the blue line. Cole Caufield has scored three times in his last five games, and Juraj Slafkovský has four assists over that stretch. There are some important absences, though. Ivan Demidov and Florian Xhekaj are out, Samuel Montembeault has a lower-body injury, and Mike Matheson is day-to-day. Losing Matheson would hurt the defense, especially when it hasn’t been particularly convincing with him available.
Chicago Blackhawks Need More Than A Few Good Shifts
Chicago are 3-6-0, with six points from nine games. The Blackhawks were shut out 4-0 by Dallas on Saturday, but they had beaten Pittsburgh 5-3 and Winnipeg 4-3 in overtime before that. So they’re not incapable of playing good hockey. They just haven’t done it often enough. They’ve scored 21 goals all season and allowed 36. When you’re giving up four a night, scoring a couple usually isn’t going to get the job done.
The shooting numbers bother me more than anything. Chicago average 21.44 shots per game, while opponents are putting about 30.5 on their net. That’s a big difference. You can steal a game when your goalie gets hot, but asking him to do that every night isn’t much of a plan. The Blackhawks’ power play is also converting at just 12.5%, and their penalty kill is below 75%. Montreal haven’t exactly been brilliant with the extra man either, but Chicago can’t keep handing opponents opportunities and expecting to survive.
Connor Bedard is still the man opponents worry about first. Roman Kantserov has scored three goals in his last five games, and Patrick Kane has four assists during that stretch. Those are useful contributions, but Chicago need more scoring throughout the lineup. Andrew Mangiapane is out with a lower-body injury, and Bowen Byram is unavailable with an upper-body problem. Spencer Knight has been the main man in goal, with a save percentage around .888 in the available early-season figures. He’s facing too many shots, and Montreal should give him another busy evening.
Montreal Canadiens vs Chicago Blackhawks Picks and Predictions
Montreal Canadiens Moneyline (-163)
I’ll take Montreal, although I wouldn’t be rushing to lay a huge wager at -163. The Canadiens have allowed 34 goals, and that’s enough to make me nervous about backing them on the road. Chicago also have five days of rest and might come out flying after that Dallas shutout. But I keep coming back to the shots. Montreal are getting nearly 29 per game, while Chicago are barely getting 21. The Blackhawks are also conceding four goals a night. I don’t need Montreal to play perfect hockey here. I just need them to create enough chances to make Chicago’s defense pay. I think they will.
Over 6 Goals
I’ll take the over if I can get 6 at a reasonable price. Montreal have conceded 34 goals in nine games, and Chicago have allowed 36. That’s 70 between them, which isn’t exactly the work of two great defensive clubs. Chicago’s offense is the concern. They’ve scored only 21, and Dallas just shut them out. But Montreal have been giving opponents chances, and I can see the Blackhawks finding a couple of goals at home. The Canadiens should do most of the scoring. I’ll call it Montreal 4, Chicago 3. At 6.5, the bet is less attractive, so I’d want to see the price before playing it.
Final Picks: Montreal Canadiens Moneyline (-163) and Over 6 Goals (price to be confirmed)
This preview was completed October 22, 2026. Betting lines, injuries, and starting goaltenders may change before puck drop.
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