Imagine the roar of the crowd, the tension hanging thick in the air... and then, heartbreak. Kaiden Guhle's last-gasp goal snatched victory from the Chicago Blackhawks in their home opener, leaving fans stunned. The Montreal Canadiens skated away with a 3-2 win on Saturday night, October 11, 2025, silencing the United Center.
This wasn't just any game; it was supposed to be a celebration, the start of something special for Chicago. But Montreal had other plans.
Cole Caufield and Zach Bolduc each contributed a goal and an assist for the Canadiens, fueling their second consecutive victory. Nick Suzuki orchestrated much of the offense with a stellar three-assist performance, while goaltender Sam Montembeault stood tall, turning away 20 shots. Talk about a team effort!
The clock was ticking down, the score tied, when Guhle unleashed a powerful slap shot that found the back of the net with a mere 15.7 seconds remaining. It was his first goal of the season, and what a time to score it!
But here's where it gets controversial... Was it a lucky shot? Or a sign of things to come for Guhle?
For Chicago, rookie sensation Connor Bedard and Sam Rinzel found the back of the net, with Spencer Knight putting up a valiant effort in goal with 25 saves. Frank Nazar and Teuvo Teravainen each chipped in with two assists. The future looks bright with these young players, but the present stings after this loss.
One of the Blackhawks' biggest challenges was staying out of the penalty box. They were whistled for a staggering 14 penalties, racking up a total of 39 penalty minutes. While their penalty kill was relatively effective, stopping eight of Montreal's ten power plays, giving the Canadiens that many opportunities ultimately proved costly. The Blackhawks, on the other hand, converted only one of their four power-play chances.
And this is the part most people miss... Discipline. Can a team truly contend for a championship when they are constantly shorthanded?
This defeat marked the Blackhawks' third straight loss to begin their centennial season. What's especially frustrating for Chicago fans is that in each of those three games, the score was tied after two periods. They've been in the fight each time, but haven't been able to close the deal.
Montreal initially took the lead when Caufield batted a puck out of the air, sending it past Knight's right shoulder for a power-play goal early in the second period – his first of the season. Rinzel answered for Chicago with his first career goal, but Bolduc quickly restored Montreal's advantage, burying a rebound on the power play.
Bolduc's goal was particularly significant, making him the first Canadiens player since Yanic Perreault in 2001 to score in each of his first three games with the team. The 22-year-old Bolduc joined Montreal in a trade with St. Louis back on July 1st and is already making a huge impact.
Chicago tied the game again midway through the second period when Nazar's power-play shot deflected off Bedard's leg and into the net for Bedard's second goal of the season.
The Blackhawks were without forward Jason Dickinson, who suffered an upper-body injury in Thursday's overtime loss to Boston. Coach Jeff Blashill anticipates Dickinson will be out for about a week. This absence undoubtedly impacted the team's depth and offensive capabilities.
Looking ahead, the Canadiens return home to host Seattle on Tuesday night in their home opener. The Blackhawks will try to get back on track as they host Utah on Monday night.
So, Blackhawks fans, what do you think? Is this just a rough patch to start the season, or are there deeper issues that need to be addressed? Can the team turn things around and live up to the expectations of their centennial season? And for Canadiens fans, is this a sign that Montreal might surprise some people this year? Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!
