For the first time in nearly one week, it’s Game Day for the Chicago Blackhawks! After five days off from game action, the Blackhawks continue their homestand with an original-six matchup against the Montreal Canadiens on Friday night.
Since their last outing on Saturday, the Blackhawks held three practices this week to prepare for the Canadiens. However, Bowen Byram didn’t participate in any of the sessions while still recovering from an upper-body injury. Byram’s status for Friday’s game remains cloudy, but head coach Jeff Blashill provided a somewhat positive update after yesterday’s practice.
More in the links for the Blackhawks latest injury news.
Around the league, an updated NHL trade board, the latest rumors surrounding Dylan Larkin and the Detroit Red Wings, and injury news on the Montreal Canadiens’ captain.
All that & more in the Daily!
Blackhawks Game Recaps, News & Trade Rumors
While Bowen Byram wasn’t on the ice with his teammates during practice this week, Andrew Mangiapane returned from the lower-body injury he suffered on opening night. Mangiapane shed the non-contact sweater for the first time at Thursday’s practice, although he didn’t participate in line rushes.
Regardless, Mangiapane is expected to be healthy enough to rejoin the Blackhawks’ active roster on Friday against Montreal. However, the scrappy winger is expected to be the lone healthy scratch in the forward group.
Andrew Mangiapane is no longer in a non-contact jersey. He hasn’t played since the season opener because of a lower-body injury. #Blackhawkspic.twitter.com/GimoSisRYD
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) October 22, 2026
As for Byram, despite his absences this week, head coach Jeff Blashill said he’s trending in the right direction to return from his upper-body injury. We’ll see if the Blackhawks’ No. 1 defenseman is on the ice for the morning skate in a few hours. That seems somewhat unlikely, considering he didn’t even skate on his own before this week’s practices.
Chicago head coach Jeff Blashill said Bowen Byram is still day to day with an upper-body injury but "he's trending the right direction for sure." #Blackhawks
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) October 22, 2026
Chicago Sun-Times: Tonight will be defenseman Ian Cole’s 1000th career NHL game! Ben Pope wrote up a story about Cole’s veteran experience and how it can help the Blackhawks’ defense improve in certain areas.
Lastly, the Blackhawks are Back in Black tonight at the United Center!
we’re 〰️ 𝑩𝑨𝑪𝑲 𝑰𝑵 𝑩𝑳𝑨𝑪𝑲 〰️ tomorrow night
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 22, 2026
see you there! pic.twitter.com/YGo53C2ftE
NHL Game Recaps, Rumors, & National Hockey Now
Sportsnet: The NHL season is not even a month old yet, but the trade chatter is already relentless. Nick Kypreos listed his Trade Board 2.0, with potential fits for Dylan Larkin and Connor Hellebuyck as the main topics. Hellebuyck returns from his suspension today, while Larkin has expanded his trade list. Do we get any trades this weekend?
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The Pittsburgh Penguins have placed forwards Bryan Rust and Ben Kindel on injured reserve. Rust got hurt Monday in a loss at Utah. Kindel had a vasovagal episode on the team plane Tuesday.
Montreal Hockey Now: Reigning Selke Trophy winner and Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki won’t be in the lineup against the Blackhawks on Friday, as he’s been ruled out for 2-4 weeks with an upper-body injury. Marc Dumont writes that the Habs face their ultimate stress test without Suzuki.
Boston Hockey Now: The Boston Bruins rolled past the Nashville Predators 6-0 on Thursday, extending their current point streak to seven games. David Pastrnak tallied four points (2G, 2A), while Michael DiPietro recorded his first career NHL shutout.
TSN: Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl each tallied five points (2G, 3A) in the Edmonton Oilers’ 6-5 shootout win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday. McDavid became the second player in NHL history to record three five-point outings in the first 10 games of a season, joining Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux.
CBC: Roope Hintz tallied the game-tying goal with two minutes remaining in regulation, then scored the overtime winner to lift the Dallas Stars to a come-from-behind 3-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets.
APNews: Justin Barron’s first career four-point game led the St. Louis Blues to a dominant 6-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday. Dylan Holloway (2G, 1A) and Jimmy Snuggerud (1G, 1A) also had multi-point performances.
ProHockeyRumors.com: According to Pierre LeBrun, the Columbus Blue Jackets are actively listening to trade offers for forward Dmitri Voronkov. The 26-year-old winger will be a restricted free agent at the end of this season. Voronkov has tallied at least 17 goals in each of his first three NHL seasons.
More Sportsnet: In the latest episode of 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman reported that the Detroit Red Wings are looking for young centers in trade talks. Friedman couldn’t say if the conversations were related to Dylan Larkin or Simon Edvinsson, but whatever Detroit is planning, they want young centers in return.
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