Latest news with #SpencerKnight
USA Today
14-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Chicago Blackhawks at Montreal Canadiens odds, picks and predictions
The Chicago Blackhawks (23-46-11) and Montreal Canadiens (39-31-10) clash in a Monday contest at Bell Centre. The opening puck drop will be will be at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's NHL odds around the Blackhawks vs. Canadiens odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions. Season series: Chicago leads 1-0 Chicago closed out its home season Saturday with a 5-4 shootout loss to the Winnipeg Jets. The Blackhawks won their last road game (5-2 at the Boston Bruins Thursday) but are just 1-7-1 over their last 9 away from home. The Canadiens also last played Saturday and filed a loss. They fell to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 1-0 overtime road tilt. With 88 points, the Canadiens currently hold the second and final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Montreal has lost 2 in a row (0-1-1) after going 6-0-0 from March 30-April 8. Stream the NHL all season on ESPN+, with your team's out-of-market games, exclusive games, originals and more. Get ESPN+ now! Blackhawks at Canadiens odds Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:54 a.m. ET. Moneyline: Blackhawks +220 (bet $100 to win $220) | Canadiens -275 (bet $275 to win $100) Blackhawks +220 (bet $100 to win $220) | Canadiens -275 (bet $275 to win $100) Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Blackhawks +1.5 (-110) | Canadiens -1.5 (-110) Blackhawks +1.5 (-110) | Canadiens -1.5 (-110) Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -115 | U: -105) Blackhawks at Canadiens projected goalies Spencer Knight (16-16-3, 2.72 GAA, .901 SV%, 2 SO) vs. Sam Montembeault (30-24-6, 2.83 GAA, .901 SV%, 4 SO) Knight was between the pipes Saturday and allowed 4 goals while making 37 saves. He has won just once (1-4-2) while clocking an .878 SV% since March 26. Montembeault yielded 4 twine-finders in his last effort (Friday at the Ottawa Senators), but he's been mostly solid of late. The 28-year-old is 5-1-0 with a .927 SV% across his last half-dozen games. Play our free daily Pick'em Challenge and win! Play now! Blackhawks at Canadiens picks and predictions Prediction Canadiens 5, Blackhawks 2 No interest: PASS. The last Chicago-Montreal meeting was Jan. 3 in Chicago. The Blackhawks won that game 4-2, snapping a 4-game Canadiens series win streak. Two of those 4 Habs wins were by multi-goal margins. Since March 8, Chicago has gone 3-11-3. All 11 of the regulation losses were by 2 goals or more. Six were by 3 or more. The Canadiens have won 5 straight games on 1 day of rest, covering the puck line (-1.5) in 3 of those victories. With a likable Over in this one and with much to play for and a goaltender advantage, BACK MONTREAL -1.5 (-106) — price available on FanDuel Sportsbook. The 'Hawks have exhibited shaky road defense all season, and of late they have been particularly leaky away from home. Chicago has coughed up 4.33 goals per game (GPG) across its last 6 road tilts. In overall games on 1 day of rest, the Blackhawks have yielded 3.60 GPG. And the 'Hawks have been porous in allowing more frequent 5-on-5 high-danger shots of late. Montreal has scored 4.00 GPG over its last 10 at home. The OVER 6 (-115) is the value side of this late-season matchup. For more sports betting picks and tips, check out and BetFTW. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.
Miami Herald
05-03-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
After trading away Spencer Knight, Panthers acquire new goalie ahead of trade deadline
The Florida Panthers' first move ahead of the NHL's 3 p.m. Friday trade deadline saw them send backup goaltender Spencer Knight to the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday for All-Star defenseman Seth Jones. Four days later, the Panthers have a new goaltender in the fold. The Panthers on Wednesday traded for San Jose Sharks goaltender Vitek Vanecek. Florida sent forward prospect Patrick Giles to San Jose in return. Vanecek, 29, has played in 181 career games (169 starts) over five NHL seasons with the Washington Capitals, New Jersey Devils and Sharks with a 2.82 goals against average and .903 save percentage. However, his numbers are at career lows this season — 3.88 goals against average and .882 save percentage in 18 games (17 starts) for the Sharks. He has a 3-10-3 record. Vanecek is in the final year of a three-year deal that has a $3.4 million cap hit. The Panthers entered Wednesday with just over $8.7 million in cap space, an abundance that was created by placing star winger Matthew Tkachuk on long-term injured reserve with his lower-body injury sustained during the 4 Nations Face-Off. Vanecek will serve as backup to Sergei Bobrovsky, who has been stellar as of late. Florida had initially called up Chris Driedger to serve as Bobrovsky's backup after they traded Knight to Chicago. Coach Paul Maurice said the team does not plan to keep three goalies on the roster, so Driedger will presumably be sent back to the Charlotte Checkers, the Panthers' American Hockey League affiliate, in short order. The Panthers still have $5.3 million in cap space available, opening the possibility of another move (or moves) before the trade deadline on Friday. Most likely, the Panthers would prioritize seeking a forward to round out their fourth-line depth.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'He Was Unbelievable Tonight': Blackhawks React To Spencer Knight's Incredible Debut
The Chicago Blackhawks beat the playoff-bound Los Angeles Kings 5-1 on Monday night. Spencer Knight made his Blackhawks debut and gave the crowd something to cheer about. To say he made a good first impression would be an understatement. Knight didn't only impress the fans with his 'First Star of the Game' performance, but he also impressed his teammates and head coach. They had some nice things to say about him postgame. 'He was awesome.' Connor Murphy said in the locker room after the game. 'We didn't make it easy on him. Good thing he was warm going into that game because that start we gave him 2 on O's and backdoor plays and everything and he stood tall. You can tell he's determined, and it's not easy to be that focused in a new environment.' Murphy made a great point about Chicago not making it easy on him. They were outshot 17-7 in the first period before finally finding their game. If Knight hadn't stood tall, this game would not have resulted in a win. 'He was unbelievable tonight.' Colton Dach said postgame on his goaltender. It's a short but sweet statement that accurately depicts the game that Spencer Knight played. 'The biggest thing I noticed was his puck-playing ability.' Dach continued when asked about how Knight helped the team get past the tough early stages of the game. 'He was making plays under pressure and he was really calm back there so it's just awesome to see someone come in like that and have an effect on the team.' Spencer Knight has always been good at playing the puck. It's like having a third defenseman on the ice at all times. It's harder to get on the forecheck against goalies who are good at playing the puck. Knight is also one of six goalies in the league with 2 or more assists this season. It wasn't only the new teammates of Knight that sang his praise after the game. Interim head coach Anders Sorensen spoke about his new goalie as well. "He looked really good". Sorensen said. "Calm is probably the word, right? He just looked so composed back there, so tight down low, made some great puck plays. Big part of it obviously." Sorensen isn't a guy loaded with a ton to say but his opinion of Knight's abilities is clear based on what he said in that quote. Knight was also one of the players who spoke after the game. Instead of praising himself the whole time, he commented on what his goals for the team are in the long term. "I'm here to build a championship-winning team." Knight said postgame. "Whether that's a year, two years, five, I don't know. But that's what we're working towards." Knight knows success. He's been a successful player his whole career and that includes in the NHL with the Florida Panthers. His name was put on the Stanley Cup last summer. Now, he wants to be the main guy that the team builds with. It isn't easy to go from first place and a contender to dead last in the division but Knight has the right attitude. He knows that he could be a part of something special if he keeps working toward that goal. His new teammates appreciated him based on their words after that marvelous performance. Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.
Associated Press
03-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Spencer Knight set to start for Chicago against LA in goaltender's 1st game since trade
CHICAGO (AP) — Spencer Knight got right to work with the Chicago Blackhawks. Knight was slated to start Monday night against the Los Angeles Kings in the goaltender's first game since he was acquired in a trade with the Florida Panthers on Saturday night. Knight, a Connecticut native who turns 24 on April 19, said he was surprised by the move. He is in the second year of a three-year contract extension that he finalized in 2022. 'You talk to people close to you and you move on and you keep moving forward,' Knight said before the matchup with LA. 'I'm lucky to come to a great organization and be in a great place that has really good groups of people, guys in the locker room, training staff, equipment staff, front office. So I'm excited.' Chicago sent defenseman Seth Jones and a 2026 fourth-round pick to Florida for Knight and a conditional first-round pick in next year's draft. The Blackhawks also retained 26% of Jones' salary in the deal, which works out to about $2.5 million annually. Knight said it was his decision to jump right in against the Kings. 'I just want to play,' he said with a grin. Knight was selected by Florida with the No. 13 pick in the 2019 draft out of Boston College. He went 44-25-7 with a 2.76 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage in 80 games with the Panthers. He goes from backing up Sergei Bobrovsky with the defending Stanley Cup champions to one of the worst teams in the league in the Blackhawks. 'I'm just going to bring what I've always brought, and that's a positive attitude, a good work ethic and work towards winning hockey,' Knight said. 'That's what I've been a part of and that's what I want to bring here. I want to bring lots of wins to this organization over however long I'm here, and that's really my mindset.' While breaking into the NHL with Florida, Knight got a chance to learn from one of the league's best goaltenders in the 36-year-old Bobrovsky, a two-time Vezina Trophy winner. 'Everyone talks about his work ethic, which he has tremendous work ethic, but he also knows how to take the foot off the gas at times, and that's very important, too,' Knight said. 'He knows what he needs, I guess, and that's I think sometimes more important than having a go-go-go attitude.' The trade puts a third goaltender on Chicago's active roster, with Knight joining Petr Mrazek, 33, and Arvid Soderblom, 25. The Blackhawks also signed Laurent Brossoit to a two-year contract on July 1 in free agency, but he has missed the entire season because of a right knee injury. Mrazek's contract runs through the 2025-26 season and carries a salary cap hit of $4.25 million. Soderblom has looked much better this year. The NHL trade deadline is Friday, but Chicago might have to carry three goaltenders the rest of the way. 'I mean you got to make sure that you're communicating a lot and making sure they're getting reps in practice,' interim coach Anders Sorensen said. 'Then obviously game time is where everybody wants to play. So just managing that is going to be a bit of a juggle here but we'll deal with it, day by day.'
Chicago Tribune
02-03-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Chicago Blackhawks trade Seth Jones to Florida Panthers for G Spencer Knight and conditional 2026 1st-round pick
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Chicago Blackhawks have traded defenseman Seth Jones to the Florida Panthers, the team announced late Saturday. The Hawks will receive goaltender Spencer Knight and a conditional 2026 first-round pick, and they'll retain 26% of Jones' salary. His contract runs through the 2029-30 season. Jones, 30, went public last month with his desire to play for a contender and asked Hawks management to facilitate a trade. 'Your prime's only so long,' he told the Tribune on Feb. 22 before the Hawks played the Blue Jackets in Columbus, Ohio. 'You're only going to play your best hockey for so long. To me, it was something to think about. Obviously I got advice from my agent (Pat Brisson) and things like that too. This is kind of the solution I came up with.' The defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers are second in the Eastern Conference. News of the trade came just hours before the Hawks This is a developing story and will be updated.
