By Townhall Chicago News Staff
The Chicago Blackhawks activated forward Andrew Mangiapane from injured reserve Friday, returning an offensive option to the lineup ahead of their matchup against the Montreal Canadiens at the United Center.
Mangiapane, 30, had been sidelined with a lower-body injury and skated in only one game during the 2026-27 season before his activation, according to an Oct. 23 Blackhawks news release.
The Blackhawks hosted Montreal for Friday Night Hockey with puck drop set for 7 p.m. The game aired in-market on CHSN and out-of-market on NHL Network, according to the release.
Mangiapane’s return added depth to a Chicago forward group looking to build consistency early in the campaign. Through the first nine games of the season, Tyler Bertuzzi, Anton Frondell and Teuvo Teravainen paced the team with four home points apiece, according to the Blackhawks’ game preview.
Captain Connor Bedard entered Friday’s game with points in all five career matchups against the Canadiens. Bedard made his season debut Oct. 13 after being activated from the injured non-roster list and recorded four points in his first four games, according to the team’s website.
Veteran forward Patrick Kane carried a four-game point streak against Montreal into Friday’s contest. Kane has logged 26 points in 30 career games against the Canadiens, according to the preview.
The Blackhawks held a 15-7-3 record against Montreal over their previous 25 meetings, with seven of those wins coming at the United Center, according to the preview.
Friday’s game also marked a milestone for defenseman Ian Cole, who appeared in his 1,000th NHL game, becoming the 422nd skater in league history to reach the mark. Cole leads the Blackhawks in blocked shots with 15 through the early season.
Goaltender Spencer Knight had won two of his three most recent starts and made 25 or more saves in four of his last five appearances heading into Friday, according to the preview.
The Blackhawks ultimately fell 4-1 to the Canadiens. Bedard scored Chicago’s lone goal with a wrist shot at 4:23 of the opening period, but Montreal took control over the final two periods, according to the team’s game recap. Kane recorded the assist on Bedard’s goal, his 897th career helper, leaving him three shy of becoming the first American-born player to reach 900 NHL assists.
The Blackhawks continue their homestand Sunday, Oct. 25, when they host the Florida Panthers at the United Center.
