Ottawa is ready to go for a Saturday afternoon tilt against the Chicago Blackhawks from the Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata, Ontario. Welcome back to NHL Predictions, with us here at Last Word On Hockey. Check out our statistical breakdown, analysis, storylines, and predictions for not just this one, but games all season long. Ottawa looks to keep the winning ways going against a Blackhawks team that has lost four-straight games. Just who are you taking in this one?
NHL Predictions Chicago Blackhawks at Ottawa Senators
2025-26 Season Series Chicago won their only other meeting this year 7-3.
Start Time: 3:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
How to Watch: TVAS, TSN5, CHSN
The Sens will look for more heroics from goaltender Linus Ullmark, as he goes up against a Hawk team led by Tyler Bertuzzi right now. Ullmark is coming off a shutout, and carries a three-game winning streak overall.
The Story for the Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are battling right now, trying to balance key injuries with finding some consistency. In contrast, having Thomas Chabot back in the lineup will be a big boost for them. The question kind of comes down to, who loses their spot?
Thomas Chabot set to return to Ottawa Senators lineup this weekend https://t.co/jbKQN3fK6W via @ottawacitizen
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) December 19, 2025
One thing, and it holds true for the Senators, too, when someone has to sit, because their team is healthy, it is just a position of strength given the more players at the coach’s disposal. The example, if you’re a Sens fans, is the club’s 7-2-2 record with Kurtis MacDermid in the lineup. The other part of that shows how skilled the Sens are as a whole. The fact they can put a tough guy in the lineup, and be successful, is a great sign.
The two major milestones for the Sens are worth noting. Tim Stutzle played in his 400th career game last time out versus Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, David Perron was able to record his 800th career point. Both are amazing feats in their own right, but the Sens as a group look to not experience some complacency ahead of the break.
Back to our original question. We think Nikolas Matinpalo takes a seat. However, this is a good chance to add our disclaimer. Please check social media for the very latest lineup news before locking in your daily fantasy rosters. This is also a good example of the Sens having options on the blueline. On the right side, Jordan Spence, Nick Jensen, and Matinpalo battle it out for those final two, right-side spots. Spence has been playing well, and Jensen keeps getting stronger after having missed most of training camp rehabbing his offseason, surgically repaired hip.
Looking At the Chicago Blackhawks Situation
For Chicago, what are we all wondering about? Connor Bedard. He’s hurt, but due back sometime in January as he was able to avoid surgery and rehab a shoulder injury, a separated shoulder by the sounds of it. The more relevant story, especially for hockey fans in Canada, is his possible availability for Team Canada at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. He seems like a bubble pick right now, somewhere between the 14th forward and near the top of reserves in case of injury replacements being required.
What else is going on Chicago? Spencer Knight is the expected starter. The significance is the difference in performance between him and his tandem-mate Arvid Soderblom. Knight is 10-9-5, while Soderblom is 3-6-1. Furthermore, Knight backs it up with a .914 save percentage and a 2.57 goals-against average. The Sens can’t take Chicago lightly, because of Spencer Knight.
One surprise for the Hawks this year, has been defenceman Wyatt Kaiser. He trails only Bedard and Alex Vlasic in ice time. Furthermore, his play has been reliable for head coach Jeff Blashill. Look for him to be a key part in Chicago’s attempt to win the matchup game.
NHL Predictions
We think Ottawa comes into this one ready to go, and shows they are the better team, especially on a home ice in December.
Prediction: Senators 4 – Blackhawks 1
Prop Bets
For the Blackhawks, it will be interesting to watch who will elevate their game in Bedard’s absence. He is a big generator for the Hawks. Someone that would shift to a more of a shooter role, could be Frank Nazar. He has six goals and 15 assists on the year, with 66 shots on goal. For the Sens, it might not be a big surprise, but Tim Stutzle is our pick. He has a five-game point streak going, with ten points in those contests.
To go along with our score prediction, check out a couple anytime scorers.
Main Photo Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
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