As the Chicago Blackhawks prepare to face off against the San Jose Sharks at the United Center tonight, several compelling storylines converge, highlighting the present and future of both franchises. The game is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN+/NBCS-BA/CHSN.
Clash of the Future Stars: Bedard vs. Celebrini
The marquee matchup undoubtedly features Connor Bedard of the Blackhawks and Macklin Celebrini of the Sharks, two highly touted young talents who represent the future of the NHL. This will be only the second time Bedard and Celebrini have faced each other. In their first encounter last March, Celebrini recorded an assist in a 4-2 victory. Bedard was held scoreless in that game.
Bedard, currently with 52 points (22 goals, 30 assists) in 42 games this season, continues to be a focal point for the Blackhawks' offense. Despite the team's struggles, Bedard's individual brilliance offers a glimpse of hope for Chicago's future. Meanwhile, Celebrini is having a standout season with the Sharks, amassing 27 goals and 52 assists for 79 points in 53 games, placing him fourth in league scoring. Celebrini's impressive performance has earned him a spot on Canada's roster for the upcoming Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina 2026.
Blackhawks' Recent Struggles
The Blackhawks are looking to snap a five-game losing streak as they face the Sharks. During this skid, they have struggled to score, averaging just 1.8 goals per game while allowing 4.2 goals per game. Chicago's offense has struggled, ranking sixth from the bottom in goals scored. Their defense has also been an issue, having allowed 21 goals in the past five games. After a promising start to January, which included wins against the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes, the Blackhawks finished the month with a series of losses.
Projected Blackhawks Lineup: * Nazar-Bedard-Bertuzzi * Teravainen-Greene-Burakovsky * Donato-Dickinson-Mikheyev * Slaggert-Moore-Lafferty Defensive pairings are projected as Vlasic-Crevier, Kaiser-Rinzel, and Grzelcyk-Murphy. Knight and Soderblom are expected to be the goaltending tandem.
Sharks Aiming to Rebound
The San Jose Sharks, with a record of 27-22-4, are aiming to solidify their playoff aspirations. The Sharks dropped their second straight game on Saturday in a 3-2 loss to the Flames. San Jose is currently averaging 2.8 goals per game while allowing 2.8 goals per game. The Sharks have shown resilience this season, as this is the first time they have suffered two consecutive defeats since the holiday break.
Projected Sharks Lineup: * Graf-Celebrini-Smith * Kurashev-Wennberg-Toffoli * Eklund-Misa-Gaudette * Goodrow-Ostapchuk-Reaves
Defensive pairings are projected as Orlov-Klingberg, Ferraro-Mukhamadullin, and Dickinson-Desharnais. Askarov and Nedeljkovic are the expected goalies.
Players to Watch
For the Sharks, Will Smith is a player to watch, as he had four points in two of the three games against Chicago last season. For the Blackhawks, Tyler Bertuzzi recorded a goal in two of the three games against the Sharks last season. Connor Bedard has 52 points this season, demonstrating his offensive capabilities.
Prediction
Despite Bedard's individual talent, the Sharks seem to have a stronger team overall. San Jose is also motivated to bounce back after losing their last two games. One prediction suggests the Sharks will win.
Additional Notes
- The Sharks have acquired a 2027 fifth-round selection (Chicago's draft pick) from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for defenseman Kyle Masters and San Jose's 2026 fourth-round selection.
- Nick Foligno of the Blackhawks is day-to-day and will miss his second straight game.