The Blackhawks are back on the road for the first time in 21 days, and Thursday’s trip to Little Caesars Arena comes with a few extra layers. Chicago and Detroit meet for the first time this season at 6:30 p.m.
CT, and it also marks Patrick Kane’s first game in Detroit since he left the organization this summer to sign with the Blackhawks. Kane is one assist away from becoming the 21st player in NHL history with 900 career assists.
Chicago enters at 4-8-0 after finally snapping a three-game losing streak with a 2-1 win over the Kings on Tuesday. That night gave the Blackhawks a little of everything they’d been missing: Roman Kantserov broke a power-play drought that had stretched to 0-for-17, Wyatt Kaiser delivered the winner in the third period, and Spencer Knight turned aside 25 of 26 shots. Even with the result, the offense is still searching for traction - the Hawks have scored just four goals across their last four games.
Detroit is coming in with a different kind of momentum. The Red Wings beat the Oilers 4-3 in a shootout on Monday to finish their four-game road trip at 2-1-1.
Viktor Arvidsson scored on the power play, Emmitt Finnie and Dylan Larkin added regulation goals, and Lucas Raymond buried the shootout winner. Michael Postava made 24 saves on 27 shots in his NHL debut.
The Red Wings have also pieced together a strong start despite the early noise around the roster. They sit on 13 points through 12 games, have won four of their last six, and have picked up at least a point in seven of their last eight.
But Thursday brought a major wrinkle: head coach Todd McLellan said after the morning skate that Larkin will not play against Chicago. Interim general manager Shawn Horcoff is expected to speak at a press conference, and Larkin appears set to remain out until a trade is finalized.
That changes the look of Detroit’s lineup, while the Blackhawks are hoping to keep building off Tuesday’s win as they start their dad’s trip. Chicago has only eight points through its first 12 games, so this is the kind of night where points matter.
The Blackhawks are expected to run back the same forward combinations they finished with against Los Angeles. Teuvo Teravainen stays with Connor Bedard and Roman Kantserov on the top line after moving there in the third period Tuesday, while Ryan Greene drops to the fourth line with Cole Smith and Jordan Greenway.
Alex Vlasic did not take part in the morning skate and is questionable because of illness; if he can’t go, Ethan Del Mastro will slide in on defense with Ian Cole. Bowen Byram was in a non-contact sweater and is set to miss his sixth straight game with an upper-body injury.
Chicago’s projected lineup: Teuvo Teravainen - Connor Bedard - Roman Kantserov
Tyler Bertuzzi - Anton Frondell - Ryan Donato
Oliver Moore - Frank Nazar - Patrick Kane
Cole Smith - Ryan Greene - Jordan Greenway
Wyatt Kaiser - Artyom Levshunov
Ethan Del Mastro* - Ian Cole
Kevin Korchinski - Sam Rinzel
Scratched: Andrew Mangiapane
Injured: Bowen Byram (upper body), Alex Vlasic (illness)*
Detroit is projected to go with an 11-forward, seven-defensemen setup, with Larkin scratched. Axel Sandin-Pellikka is expected to return as the seventh defenseman after sitting as a healthy scratch in the previous three games.
Detroit’s projected lineup: Alex DeBrincat - Emmitt Finnie - Viktor Arvidsson
Michael Brandsegg-Nygard - Andrew Copp - Lucas Raymond
Michael Rasmussen - Nate Danielson - J.T.
Compher
Carter Mazur - Keegan Kolesar
Ben Chiarot - Moritz Seider
William Wallinder - Justin Faulk
Andreas Englund - Anton Johansson
Axel Sandin-Pellikka
Scratched: Dylan Larkin
Injured: Mason Appleton (undisclosed), Albert Johansson (undisclosed), Marco Kasper (upper body)
In goal, Spencer Knight is expected to make his eighth straight start and 11th of the season for Chicago. He’s 4-6-0 with a 3.23 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage, and he was sharp in Tuesday’s win. Knight has handled Detroit well in limited work, going 1-0-0 with a 0.74 GAA and .974 save percentage in two career games against the Red Wings.
Across the ice, John Gibson is slated for his ninth start of the season. He’s 3-4-1 with a 3.44 GAA and .867 save percentage, and he gave up four goals on 25 shots in his last outing, a loss to Calgary. Gibson has a long track record against Chicago, going 7-10-1 with a 3.27 GAA, .896 save percentage and three shutouts in 19 career games.
The season series gets going Thursday, with the rematch set for Jan. 16, 2027, at the United Center. The teams split their two meetings last season, with both clubs winning on the road. Chicago’s 5-1 win in Detroit last November was its first against the Red Wings since Oct. 21, 2022, ending a five-game skid in the matchup.
Chicago enters with Roman Kantserov leading the club with five goals, while Patrick Kane tops the team in assists with seven and points with eight. Detroit’s leaders are Alex DeBrincat with six goals, Lucas Raymond with eight assists, and DeBrincat with 13 points.
How to watch: ESPN+, Disney+, and HULU. Radio coverage is on WGN 720 AM.
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