The Chicago Blackhawks host the Los Angeles Kings in a Pacific-Central Division crossover at the United Center, where Connor Bedard’s sophomore brilliance collides with Anze Kopitar’s timeless two-way mastery. Chicago (12-9-6) enters on a high note with three straight wins, injecting life into a rebuild year through balanced scoring and Petr Mrazek’s resurgence (.905 SV%). The Kings (12-8-7), however, are mired in a three-game skid, their road defense crumbling (3.67 GA/GP away) without key blueliners, forcing reliance on Quinton Byfield’s breakout (18 pts). This is the third meeting this season—split 1-1-0—with playoff implications subtle but real: a Hawks win bolsters their wild-card push, while LA needs points to stay afloat in the Pacific. Expect a fast-paced, transitional battle, as both teams rank top-10 in rush chances (11.2/GP combined).
Venue and Game Details
Location: United Center, Chicago, IL (1901 West Madison Street, Chicago, IL 60612). The Blackhawks’ iconic arena seats 19,717 for hockey and pulses with Madhouse energy, though Chicago’s home record (7-4-3) has been solid but not impenetrable (2.88 GA/GP).
Puckdrop: 8:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. CT).
Broadcast: TNT (national), NBC Sports Chicago (Blackhawks), Bally Sports West (Kings), Sportsnet (Canada). Doors open at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Tickets: Available via Ticketmaster or secondary markets like Gametime, starting around $75 (including fees).
Team Records and Standings
Chicago sits sixth in the Central Division with a +5 goal differential, leaning on youth (top-5 in rookie points at 42) but vulnerable on special teams (79.5% PK, 26th). Los Angeles holds fourth in the Pacific, with elite even-strength play (2.95 xGF/60, 7th) masking goaltending inconsistencies (2.89 GAA, 18th).
| Team | Record (W-L-OTL) | Points | GF/GP | GA/GP | Home | Away | Streak |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 12-9-6 | 30 | 2.89 | 2.78 | 7-4-3 | 5-5-3 | W3 |
| Los Angeles Kings | 12-8-7 | 31 | 3.04 | 2.89 | 7-3-4 | 5-5-3 | L3 |
The Hawks rank 15th in shots per game (31.2), while the Kings top the league in faceoff wins (53.1%, 1st) but sit 23rd in power-play goals allowed (15).
Recent Team Forms
Chicago has exploded for 13 goals in three wins, including Thursday’s 5-3 home triumph over Anaheim, where Bedard’s line dominated (8 pts). They’re 6-3-1 in their last 10, with Mrazek’s .905 SV% over the streak erasing early-season blues—though penalties (10.2 PIM/GP) persist.
Los Angeles’ skid features just 5 goals scored, outshot 98-72 across losses, exposing blue-line gaps. The Kings are 4-5-1 in their prior 10, strong at home but dismal on the road (2-4-2, 3.67 GA/GP). Adrian Kempe’s 20 pts keep them competitive, but depth scoring (bottom-10 in 5v5 GF) falters.
| Blackhawks Last 5 Games | Result | Score | Key Notes |
| Dec 4 vs ANA | W | 5-3 | Bedard 2G-1A; Mrazek 24 saves, power play 2/3. |
| Dec 1 @ DET | W | 4-2 | Kurashev GWG; road resilience, 32 SOG. |
| Nov 29 vs COL | W | 4-3 (OT) | Reichel decider; high-danger thriller. |
| Nov 26 @ VAN | L | 2-5 | Defensive errors; 0/4 PP. |
| Nov 23 vs PIT | L | 1-4 | Mrazek pulled; low shots (21 SOG). |
| Kings Last 5 Games | Result | Score | Key Notes |
| Dec 4 @ SJS | L | 2-4 | Kempe G; Copley .862 SV%, road collapse. |
| Dec 2 @ VGK | L | 1-3 | Kopitar A; outshot 15-32, no power-play chances. |
| Nov 29 vs ARI | L | 2-3 (SO) | Byfield shootout goal; PK 3/3 but offense stagnant. |
| Nov 27 @ SEA | W | 4-2 | Fiala 2G; last win before slide. |
| Nov 24 vs MIN | W | 3-1 | Talbot 28 saves; controlled low-event. |
Injury Report
Chicago’s youth movement is intact with minor forward tweaks, while LA’s defense is ravaged, thinning their shutdown pairs significantly.
| Team | Player | Position | Status | Est. Return | Notes |
| CHI | Alex Vlasic | D | IR (Out) | Dec 12 | Upper body; 4 pts in 22GP, rookie poise. |
| CHI | Taylor Hall | LW | Out | Dec 9 | Knee; 6 pts in 18GP, veteran netfront. |
| CHI | Arvid Soderblom | G | Day-to-Day | Dec 6? | Illness; backup to Mrazek (8-6-4, .905 SV%). |
| LAK | Drew Doughty | D | IR (Out) | Jan 15 | Ankle; 5 pts in 15GP, captain’s absence kills transitions. |
| LAK | Matt Roy | D | Out | Dec 13 | Lower body; 3 pts in 20GP, top-pair anchor. |
| LAK | Tanner Jeannot | LW | IR (Out) | Dec 20 | Hip; 4 pts in 16GP, physical edge missing. |
| LAK | David Rittich | G | Available | Dec 6 | Backup returns; Copley starts (5-5-3, .882 SV%). |
Petr Mrazek for Chicago; Pheonix Copley for Los Angeles.
Key Player Matchups
The Hawks’ speed vs. the Kings’ cycle game sets the tone, with Bedard hunting for space amid LA’s depleted D.
Connor Bedard (CHI, 13G-16A) vs. Mikey Anderson (LAK): Bedard’s elusiveness (1.22 Pts/GP) tests Anderson’s positioning (3.2 defensive shares). Bedard has 9 pts in streak; Anderson must shadow rushes (CHI 11.8/GP).
Anze Kopitar (LAK, 9G-18A) vs. Seth Jones (CHI): Kopitar’s faceoff mastery (54.3%) meets Jones’ veteran reach (22:10 TOI). Kopitar 7 pts in 8 vs. CHI; Jones limits centers to 1.9 xGA/60.
Philipp Kurashev (CHI, 10G-12A) vs. Quinton Byfield (LAK): Kurashev’s chemistry with Bedard (15 combined pts) exploits Byfield’s growth (18 pts). Kurashev 5G in last 6; Byfield wins 51% draws.
Adrian Kempe (LAK, 14G-6A) vs. Jaycob Megna (CHI): Kempe’s shot volume (3.2 SOG/GP) challenges Megna’s depth role. Kempe 4G in skid; Megna blocks 1.8/GP but vulnerable on edges.
Petr Mrazek (CHI) vs. Kings’ Top Line: Mrazek’s angles (.905 SV%) vs. Kopitar-Kempe-Fiala (44 combined pts). Mrazek 2 shutouts this year; LAK generates 12.1 HD chances/GP.
Bonus: Frank Seravalli? Wait, Lukas Reichel (CHI, emerging) in bottom-six vs. LA’s third line.
Series History
These Original Six hopefuls have met 298 times (regular season), with Chicago leading 158-120-20 (56.6% win rate)—a nod to their dynasty days. The Hawks have won 3 of the last 5, including a 4-2 home victory on October 28 (Bedard GWG). LA is 4-6 in their last 10 at United Center, often undone by Chicago’s crowd (avg. 3.1 goals allowed). Playoff edge: CHI’s 2010s Cups over LA.
| Last 5 Meetings | Date | Result (CHI Home unless noted) | Score | Key Stat |
| Oct 28, 2025 | CHI Home | W (CHI) | 4-2 | Mrazek 29 saves; Hawks outshoot 33-25. |
| Mar 15, 2025 | @ LAK | L (LAK) | 3-4 (OT) | Kopitar GWG; high-event (58 SOG). |
| Jan 8, 2025 | CHI Home | W (CHI) | 3-1 | Bedard 2A; low-scoring trap. |
| Nov 20, 2024 | @ LAK | W (LAK) | 5-4 | Kurashev hat trick; offensive frenzy. |
| Apr 4, 2024 | CHI Home | W (CHI) | 2-1 (SO) | Shootout drama; PK shines. |
Chicago wins 65% when outshooting opponents (LAK avg: 30.8 SOG).
Betting Trends
Moneyline Trends: Blackhawks 7-4 as home favorites; Kings 5-5 as road dogs. 61% bets on CHI ML.
Puck Line: CHI -1.5 (+150) covers in 52% of home wins; LAK +1.5 (-180) hits 70% as underdogs.
Total Trends: Under 5.5 in 7 of CHI’s last 10; Over in 5 of LAK’s last 8 roads. League avg: 6.0 goals/game.
Game Odds
Chicago Blackhawks 5.5
Los Angeles Kings – 205
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, December 5, 2025
