Blackhawks vs. Jets: Nazar Returns, But Now No Byram, Lineups, & Watch Game 8

The Chicago Blackhawks (2-5-0) long homestand continues as the division-rival Winnipeg Jets (4-1-1) come to town for a battle at the United Center on Thursday. The game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on CHSN.

Thursday marks the first of four meetings between the Blackhawks and Jets this season, with all four occurring within eight weeks. The two teams meet again in Chicago on Nov. 14, then Winnipeg hosts the final two games on Nov. 30 and Dec. 10. Expect some bad blood to brew as the series progresses, with four matchups between Central Division foes in such a short timespan.

The Blackhawks are coming off a much-needed 5-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, sparked by captain Connor Bedard 's season debut after being cleared to return from offseason shoulder surgery.

Bedard tallied a primary assist and looked sharp in his return, while Teuvo Teravainen and Roman Kantserov each scored twice. It was Kantserov's first career multi-goal and multi-point NHL performance. Tyler Bertuzzi added the empty-netter late in the third period to seal the victory. Spencer Knight stopped 24 of 27 shots in net to earn the win.

After Bedard's return on Tuesday, the Blackhawks will get another massive lineup boost against the Jets. Frank Nazar is eligible to return from a two-game suspension for an illegal check to New York Islanders captain Bo Horvat one week ago. For the first time this season, Bedard and Nazar will both be in the lineup together on Thursday.

Unfortunately, the Blackhawks will be without their No. 1 defenseman against the Jets, as Bowen Byram will miss Thursday's game with an upper-body injury. Head coach Jeff Blashill said Byram is day-to-day after the morning skate. Blashill didn't offer more details on Byram's injury, but it's worth mentioning he took a puck to the helmet/visor in Tuesday's win over Pittsburgh.

The Jets are coming off a 5-2 win over the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday and have only one regulation loss in their first six games this season. Despite star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck remaining away from the team while awaiting a trade, Winnipeg has stormed out of the gates with the top points percentage in the Central Division (.750).

Through six games, Kyle Connor and Cole Perfetti have done much of the heavy lifting offensively for the Jets. Connor enters Thursday's game tied for second in the NHL with seven goals, while Perfetti is tied for ninth with five tallies. The two wingers have accounted for 12 of the Jets' 18 goals so far this season.

Winnipeg has also benefitted from terrific special-teams play, ranking third in the NHL on the penalty kill (92.3%) and fourth on the power play (31.2%). Head coach Scott Arniel has his team playing well in all facets, so the Blackhawks cannot take a Hellebuyck-less bunch lightly on Thursday.

Here's everything else to know before the puck drops at 7:00 p.m. CT in Chicago.

Roman Kantserov — Connor Bedard — Patrick Kane

Tyler Bertuzzi — Anton Frondell — Teuvo Teravainen

Oliver Moore — Frank Nazar — Ryan Donato

Cole Smith — Ryan Greene — Jordan Greenway

D — Kevin Korchinski, F — Dominic Toninato

D — Bowen Byram (upper body), F — Andrew Mangiapane (lower body)

Nazar returns from his two-game suspension and will center the third line with Ryan Donato and Oliver Moore, replacing Dominic Toninato.

With Byram expected to miss Thursday's game, Ethan Del Mastro is projected to skate in his place on the top defensive pairing with Artyom Levshunov.

Kevin Korchinski will be scratched for the fifth consecutive game.

Kyle Connor — Mark Scheifele — Cole Perfetti

Nino Niederreiter — Viggo Björck — Gabriel Vilardi

Vladislav Namestnikov — Morgan Barron — Cole Koepke

D — Garrett Brown (lower body), F — Walker Duehr (lower body), D — Josh Morrissey (upper body), D — Elias Salomonsson (shoulder)

Spencer Knight (2-3-0, 3.64 GAA, .885 Sv%, 0 SO) vs. Stuart Skinner (3-0-1, 2.47 GAA, .917 Sv%, 0 SO)

Knight will make his sixth start of the season for the Blackhawks. In his last outing on Tuesday, the 25-year-old stopped 24 of 27 shots against the Penguins to earn the win. Knight is 1-2-3 with a 3.65 GAA, .887 Sv%, and one shutout in six career starts against Winnipeg.

Skinner will make his fifth start of the season for the Jets. In his last start on Tuesday, the 27-year-old stopped 19 of 21 shots against the Wild to earn the win. Skinner is a perfect 5-0-0 with a 1.98 GAA and .925 Sv% in five career games against Chicago.

The Jets won three of four meetings last year, outscoring the Blackhawks 13-10. The season's final two matchups required overtime, with Winnipeg winning both.

Since February 2020, the Jets have won 17 of the last 20 games against the Blackhawks, with only two regulation losses during that stretch (17-2-1).

Winnipeg Jets (4-1-1, 9 Points) @ Chicago Blackhawks (2-5-0, 4 Points)

Head Coaches: Scott Arniel (WPG), Jeff Blashill (CHI)

For more Blackhawks news, visit Chicago Hockey Now and like our Facebook Page .