NHL Game Preview: Montreal Canadiens at Chicago Blackhawks with Line Combinations 1/3/2025

Connor Bedard and Nick Foligno on the Chicago Blackhawks
David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Montreal Canadiens at Chicago Blackhawks
Venue: United Center
Date: Tonight – Friday, January 3
Time: 7:00 pm CST

TV: ESPN+ / CHSN
Radio:
Montreal – 690 TSN
Chicago – 720 WGN

DraftKings Sportsbook Betting Lines:
Montreal -1.5 ML +180
Chicago +1.5 ML -218
O/U 5.5

Purchase tickets via Ticketmaster

Montreal Canadiens News & Notes

The Canadiens have been hot out of the Holiday Break, winning all three of their games against the Panthers, Lightning, and Golden Knights. Montreal is currently 2 points out of the Wild Card race and

Chicago Blackhawks News & Notes

Chicago is coming out of a disappointing loss to the St. Louis Blues in the Winter Classic, but the Blackhawks have lost their last five games.

Montreal Canadiens Projected Lines

Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovsky
Newhook-Dach-Laine
Anderson-Dvorak-Gallagher
Heineman-Evans-Armia

Hutson-Matheson
Guhle-Carrier
Xhekaj-Savard

Montembeault
Dobes

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Montreal Hockey – Inside The Rink

Chicago Blackhawks Projected Lines

Hall-Bedard-Bertuzzi
Foligno-Nazar-Donato
Teravainen-Dickinson-Mikheyev
Maroon-Reichel-Anderson

Vlasic-Murphy
Allan-Jones
Korchinski-Brodie

Mrazek
Soderblom

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Players To Watch:

Montreal Canadiens

Cole Caufield is leading the charge offensively with 19 goals. Nick Suzuki leads the team in assists(25) and points(36)

Chicago Blackhawks

Connor Bedard leads the Blackhawks in assists(23) and points(33). Tyler Bertuzzi leads the team in goals with 12.

Injury Report:

Montreal Canadiens

David Reinbacher – LTIR
D David Savard – Game Time Decision

Chicago Blackhawks

G Laurent Brossoit – IR (Non-Roster)
D Alec Martinez – Day to day
C Craig Smith – Day to day

Next Game

Montreal Canadiens – January 4 at Colorado Avalanche
Chicago Blackhawks – January 5 vs New York Rangers

Season 4. Episode 19. Mark Divver Bruins Benders Podcast

The Benders chat with New England Hockey Journal’s Mark Divver. Also, is Nikita Zadorov a leader in the making? Are the Bruins slow, stupid, and soft? David Pastrnak needs more credit and much more! DraftKings Sportsbook – Boston’s hometown Sportsbook is LIVE right here in Massachusetts! Bet local on all your favorite sports from the comfort of your own home with DraftKings. To celebrate, ALL new customers will receive up to TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS bets when you sign up for DraftKings Sportsbook using code ITR! You can now bet local on money lines, spreads, props, and more with one of America’s top-rated Sportsbooks – DraftKings Sportsbook!  Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and sign up with code ITR to get up to TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS bets to use now that mobile sports betting is live in Massachusetts. That’s code ITR only at DraftKings Sportsbook. If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, call 800 327-5050 or visit helplineMA.org to speak with a trained specialist, free and confidentially, twenty four seven. Must be 21+. Physically present in MA. Eligibility restrictions apply. Subject to regulatory licensing requirementsEligibility and deposit restrictions apply. Opt in required. Bonus issued as free bets. Terms at draftkings.com/MA.
  1. Season 4. Episode 19. Mark Divver
  2. Season 4. Episode 18. Two Paths
  3. Season 4. Episode 17. Stanley Cup Parade Back On?
  4. Season 4. Episode 16. Gutsy Loss
  5. Season 4. Episode 15. Public Skate

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Connor Green

Managing Editor | Inside the Rink

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