Blackhawks vs. Bruins: A Clash of Eras and Intensity at the United Center
Chicago Blackhawks (19-21-7, 45 pts) vs. Boston Bruins (27-19-2, 56 pts)
7 p.m. CT - United Center
TV: CHSN | Radio: WGN 720 AM
Tonight at the United Center, it’s more than just a regular-season matchup-it’s a celebration of a golden era in Blackhawks history. The franchise is honoring its Stanley Cup-winning teams from the 2010s, and with legends from those championship runs in the building, the energy is going to be electric. But once the puck drops, the focus shifts to the present-and the challenge ahead is a big one.
The Boston Bruins are rolling. Winners of five straight and seven of their last eight, they’re playing some of their best hockey of the season. The Blackhawks, meanwhile, are looking to snap a two-game skid on this four-game homestand and find a spark in front of a raucous home crowd.
“They’re obviously coming in here hot,” head coach Jeff Blashill said. “They’ve rattled off a number of wins in a row.
They’re scoring off the rush. I think Pastrnak is one of the best players in the league, and I have thought so for a long time.”
The Bruins already took the first game of the season series, edging out the Hawks 4-3 in overtime back in early October. That night, Connor Bedard and Andre Burakovsky each tallied a goal and an assist. Chicago has held its own against Boston at the United Center in recent years, earning points in nine of the last 14 matchups (5-5-4), but the Bruins will be looking to complete the season sweep.
A Night to Celebrate the Banner Years
Before the game, the Blackhawks will take a moment to look back on the dynasty that defined a generation of Chicago hockey. Former Cup winners like Brent Seabrook, Dustin Byfuglien, Kris Versteeg, Andrew Ladd, Troy Brouwer, and Ben Eager were all spotted at the morning skate, setting the stage for what promises to be a memorable pregame ceremony.
“What an awesome story for this franchise,” said current captain Nick Foligno. “These guys and what they’ve meant to this city. I think it’s really cool for the next generation to see this - that's what you could become if you do it right.”
And that message hits home. For young stars like Bedard and the rest of this emerging core, tonight is a reminder of what’s possible. The United Center will be buzzing, and if the Blackhawks can feed off that energy early, it could set the tone for a strong performance.
The Battle for the Middle
If the Blackhawks want to slow down the Bruins’ high-powered attack, it starts with winning the battle in the middle of the ice. That’s where games are won in today’s NHL-between the dots, in the trenches, and around the net.
“They play a very good, structured game,” Blashill said of Boston. “They penetrate the middle.
Honestly, it won’t be a lot different from the Calgary game. That game was a good lesson for us about how important it is, especially when you’re down, to make sure you’re committed to getting to the middle of the ice.”
Chicago didn’t register a single scoring chance in the third period against the Flames on Thursday, and that lack of interior presence cost them. Blashill knows it.
His team knows it. If they want to turn things around tonight, they’ll need to bring a blue-collar mindset-drive the net, get inside position, and fight for the dirty goals.
“It will be a hard game on a somewhat muddy track,” Blashill added. “So, we’re going to have to be committed to playing that way.”
Injury Notes and Lineup Watch
There was some encouraging news on the injury front. Rookie forward Frank Nazar was a full participant in morning skate-albeit in a non-contact jersey and wearing a half shield to protect his jaw. It was his first full on-ice session since the injury, and while he’s unlikely to suit up Monday, his return seems to be just around the corner.
Teuvo Teravainen, however, will miss his second straight game with an upper-body injury. There’s no new timeline for his return.
Jason Dickinson gave the coaching staff a bit of a scare after taking a shot off the foot and leaving the morning skate early, but Blashill expects him to play tonight. Given the string of bad breaks Dickinson has endured this season, the fact that he’s expected to go is a welcome bit of stability.
Projected Lineups
Blackhawks Forwards
- Ryan Greene - Connor Bedard - Andre Burakovsky
- Tyler Bertuzzi - Jason Dickinson - Ilya Mikheyev
- Ryan Donato - Oliver Moore - Nick Lardis
- Nick Foligno - Colton Dach - Landon Slaggert
Defense
- Alex Vlasic - Louis Crevier
- Wyatt Kaiser - Artyom Levshunov
- Matt Grzelcyk - Connor Murphy
Scratched: Sam Lafferty
Injured: Frank Nazar (upper body), Teuvo Teravainen (upper body)
Bruins Forwards
- Marat Khusnutdinov - Elias Lindholm - David Pastrnak
- Casey Mittelstadt - Pavel Zacha - Viktor Arvidsson
- Alex Steeves - Frase Mitten - Morgan Geekie
- Tanner Jeannot - Sean Kuraly - Mark Kastelic
Defense
- Jonathan Aspirot - Charlie McAvoy
- Nikita Zadorov - Henri Jokiharju
- Mason Lohrei - Andrew Peeke
Scratched: Mikey Eyssimont, Vladislav Kolyachonok, Billy Sweezey
Injured: Jordan Harris (ankle), Hampus Lindholm (undisclosed)
Stat Leaders to Watch
Blackhawks
- Goals: Tyler Bertuzzi (24)
- Assists: Connor Bedard (27)
- Points: Connor Bedard (46)
- Power-Play Goals: Tyler Bertuzzi (9)
- Game-Winning Goals: Bedard, Bertuzzi (3 each)
- Shots on Goal: Bedard (113)
- Penalty Minutes: Colton Dach (45)
Bruins
- Goals: Morgan Geekie (25)
- Assists: David Pastrnak (37)
- Points: David Pastrnak (57)
- Power-Play Goals: Pastrnak (9)
- Game-Winning Goals: Geekie, Arvidsson (4 each)
- Shots on Goal: Pastrnak (152)
- Penalty Minutes: Nikita Zadorov (115)
Team Stats Snapshot
| Category | Blackhawks | Bruins |
|---|
| Goals For/Game | 2.74 (25th) | 3.27 (9th) | | Goals Against/Game | 3.11 (19th) | 3.06 (16th) |
| Power Play % | 22.2% (12th) | 24.6% (6th) | | Penalty Kill % | 85.0% (2nd) | 78.8% (19th) |
| Shots/Game | 25.2 (31st) | 27.5 (21st) | | Shots Against/Game | 29.7 (27th) | 29.7 (28th) |
| Faceoff Win % | 47.2% (26th) | 52.3% (5th) | | Penalty Minutes/Game | 10:21 (26th) | 13:42 (31st) |
Final Word
It’s a night where past glory meets present grind. The Blackhawks are still building, still learning, and still searching for consistency.
The Bruins? They’re a team that knows who they are and how they want to play.
If Chicago wants to spoil Boston’s momentum and give the home crowd something to cheer about beyond the pregame festivities, they’ll need to bring a playoff-style effort-tight checking, smart puck management, and a willingness to pay the price in front of the net.
With the ghosts of championships past watching from the stands, the stage is set for a statement game. Let’s see if the next generation is ready to rise to the moment.