Florida Panthers vs Chicago Blackhawks Picks and Predictions for Sunday, October 25, 2026

Florida and Chicago are both trying to get their offenses going again after a couple of disappointing performances. The Panthers visit the Blackhawks at United Center on Sunday, with puck drop at 3:00 pm ET on ESPN+. Florida sits sixth in the Atlantic Division at 5-4-2 after losing 4-0 to Pittsburgh on Thursday. Chicago is last in the Central at 3-7-0, following a 4-1 loss to Montreal on Friday. Both teams have dropped two straight games, with neither finding much offense during those defeats. We've got more Sunday matchups in our free NHL picks.

Florida Panthers Trying to Find Their Scoring Touch

Florida looked pretty dangerous during its three-game winning streak. The Panthers scored seven against Columbus, beat Vancouver 3-2 in overtime and then put eight past Seattle. That scoring disappeared during their latest road games. Ottawa handed Florida a 5-1 defeat Wednesday, and Pittsburgh followed with a 4-0 shutout Thursday. The Panthers have averaged 2.82 goals on 28.1 shots per game, while opponents have scored 3.09. Florida has enough attacking talent to produce much better results, but the last two performances were disappointing.

Matthew Tkachuk leads Florida with 15 points and 12 assists, with his assists total tied for fourth in the NHL. Brady Tkachuk has seven goals, tied for ninth in the league. Carter Verhaeghe has scored six times, and Sam Reinhart has five. In goal, Jacob Markstrom owns a 3-1-1 record with a 2.21 goals-against average and .897 save percentage, although he's currently injured. Akira Schmid has a 3.62 GAA and .867 save percentage. Florida has killed 82.6% of opposing power plays.

Injuries: Gustav Forsling is day-to-day. Jacob Markstrom and Brad Marchand are on injured reserve, while Aleksander Barkov and Jonah Gadjovich remain on long-term injured reserve.

Chicago Blackhawks Need More Production Up Front

Chicago had a couple of encouraging games earlier this month, beating Pittsburgh 5-3 and Winnipeg 4-3 in overtime. The Blackhawks haven't been able to build on those wins. Dallas shut them out 4-0 last Saturday, and Montreal won 4-1 at United Center on Friday. Chicago has scored only one goal in those two losses. The Blackhawks average 2.20 goals per game while giving up four, and their opponents are getting 30.3 shots on net each night. Chicago manages just 21.4 shots itself, making sustained offensive pressure difficult.

Patrick Kane and Anton Frondell share Chicago's points lead with six each. Both have five assists, while Frank Nazar and Roman Kantserov lead the team with three goals apiece. Connor Bedard has four points through four appearances. Spencer Knight has handled most of the goaltending, going 3-5-0 with a 3.52 goals-against average and .888 save percentage. Arvid Soderblom is 0-2-0 with a 4.58 GAA and .820 save percentage. The Blackhawks have also converted just 10.3% of their power-play opportunities.

Injuries: Bowen Byram is out.

Key To The Game

Florida has struggled to score lately, but Chicago has allowed four goals per game. The Panthers need Tkachuk creating chances again. Chicago needs more shots from its forwards and a better performance from its goaltending to compete.

Florida Panthers vs Chicago Blackhawks Game Pick

• Florida Panthers

Florida has been shut down in its last two games, but Chicago presents a better opportunity for its forwards. The Blackhawks allow four goals per game and have lost their last two by a combined 8-1 score. Matthew Tkachuk has been creating plenty of chances, and Brady Tkachuk gives Florida a scoring threat. Chicago has struggled at both ends of the ice. The Panthers get back into the win column Sunday.

Florida Panthers vs Chicago Blackhawks Over/Under Pick

• Under

Both teams have been quiet offensively lately. Florida scored only once across its losses to Ottawa and Pittsburgh, while Chicago managed one goal against Dallas and Montreal combined. The Blackhawks are taking just 21.4 shots per game, and Florida's penalty kill has been dependable. Chicago's defensive numbers are poor, but the recent scoring droughts matter more here. The under is the play in Sunday's matchup at United Center between these teams.