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Recap: Blackhawks lose home opener to Canadiens 3-2

Originally posted on The Rink | By Sean Fitzgerald | Last updated Oct 12, 2025 12:33 PM ET

The Chicago Blackhawks squared off against the Montreal Canadiens in their home opener. Before the game began, the Hawks revved up the crowd the first celebration of the centennial season. The Hawks had newest team ambassador Pat Foley give a speech and spoke about Troy Murray. Murray is still battling cancer at this time. Foley asked everyone to keep Murray in their thoughts.

Onto the game, the Hawks looked for their first win of the season at home. Meanwhile, the Canadiens came into the United Center with a 1-1 record and a convincing win over the Detroit Red Wings.

This was going to be the second-ever meeting between Ivan Demidov and Artyom Levshunov. While the Hawks ultimately took Leshunov at No. 2 in the 2024 NHL Draft, a lot of fans wanted Demidov. Levshunov was announced as healthy scratch instead.

In addition to Levshunov’s scratching, Lukas Reichel got his first action of the season on the fourth line.

First period

The first period was filled with four Blackhawks penalities and no goals by either team.

Second period

The second period began with more Blackhawks penalties.Wyatt Kaiser got the party started with a two-minute penalty for cross-checking Zachary Bolduc. The Habs cashed in the penalty with a goal from Cole Caufield.

Sam Rinzel answered the Caufield with a goal of his own shortly after, the first of his NHL career.

let’s hear it for Sam Rinzel!️ pic.twitter.com/G1mf0gvozu

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 12, 2025

Less than a minute later, Bolduc sent Frank Nazar flying with a big hit, causing the first big scrum of the period. At the 4:58 mark, Kaiser and Alex Newhook got roughing penalties. Fellow Hawks defenseman Louis Crevier got an instigator penalty, a fighting penalty and a misconduct penalty. On the enusing Habs power play, Bolduc made the score 2-1 in favor of Montreal.

Later in the period, Arber Xhekaj was called for roughing Colton Dach. The Hawks tied the game on a Connor Bedard goal, though it was not the type of power-play goal we typically see from the 20-year-old.

bedzar doing bedzar things pic.twitter.com/GYP7gmr1IB

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 12, 2025

After the Bedard goal, the Hawks recorded four more penalties in the period. That included a Bedard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Despite the parade of guys to the penalty box, the second ended tied at 2-2.

Third period

In the final period, the Hawks and Habs played evenly matched hockey until the last minute of the game. With less than 20 seconds left in regulation, Kaiden Guhle potted his first goal of the season. The Guhle goal propelled Montreal to the 3-2 win and the Hawks to a third straight loss.

Analysis

While the Blackhawks are more entertaining to watch this season, they are still finding ways to lose close games. Saturday’s loss was a heart-breaker with 15 seconds remaining in regulation.

Despite the close loss, the Hawks played liked an undisciplined team. The Hawks recorded 10 penalties in the loss. This was the most penalties in a game since November of 2008.

On the positive side, the penalty killers were really good, only allowing two power-play goals. Spencer Knight recorded 25 saves in the loss.

Rinzel scored his first NHL goal and Bedard scored his second on the season. Rinzel and Bedard need to have big seasons for the Blackhawks, as they are the Hawks’ present and future.

Reichel could soon become part of the Blackhawks’ past. The engimatic forward was invisible in his first action of the season. Reichel played 6:41 and had zero shots, one hit and two giveaways.

The Hawks need to find way to start closing out some of these close games and earning some victories.

The Blackhawks welcome in the Utah Mammoth on Monday, with puck drop at 7:30 p.m. CST.