Ex-Blackhawk plots revenge as Chicago visits the Canadiens Friday: 'A revenge game for me'
Joe Veleno has circled Friday as Montreal Canadiens host the Chicago Blackhawks, with revenge, opportunity, and a reset all wrapped into one night at the Bell Centre.
The Canadiens forward finally gets a shot he missed two months ago. Joe Veleno was a healthy scratch to open the season and stayed back during Montreal's opening road trip, which ended in Chicago on Oct. 11.
That stung, especially given how his Chicago tenure ended. Veleno appeared in 18 games with the Blackhawks last season after a March 7 trade from Detroit, producing modest offense while carving out a depth role.
The surprise came June 21 when Chicago flipped him again, sending him to Seattle. The Kraken immediately placed Veleno on unconditional waivers and bought out his final contract year, clearing the path to Montreal.
Veleno, 25, signed with the Canadiens on July 16, returning home as a Kirkland native with something to prove. Friday's matchup comes during a four-game homestand that has already swung wildly.
«I was finding my game there,"
- Joe Veleno
Veleno said after Wednesday's optional practice. He felt comfortable in his role and unhappy about being moved, adding a clear edge to this matchup.
«It's more of a revenge game for me,» Veleno told The Gazette after Wednesday's optional practice in Brossard. «I thought my time there, I was actually finding my game again. For the ice time I was given and what kind of role I was put in, I thought production-wise, it was pretty good. I felt really good over there. I really felt comfortable. I was obviously very unhappy to be traded in the summer. I want to put my best foot forward and show them what they missed out on. There's definitely going to be an extra edge (on Thursday).»
Joe Veleno eyes Blackhawks' response.
As a fan watching this team nightly, you can feel how badly Montreal needs someone to grab momentum and refuse to give it back.
The Canadiens followed their best performance of the season, a dominant 4-1 win over Edmonton on Sunday, with a frustrating 4-1 loss to Philadelphia on Tuesday. Defensive reads slipped, and small mistakes snowballed again.
Veleno didn't sugarcoat it. He pointed to missed net-front presence and too many shots coming from the outside, a familiar theme during Montreal's uneven offensive nights this season.
Montreal has oddly been stronger away from home. The Canadiens are 9-3-3 on the road but just 8-9-1 at the Bell Centre, a stark contrast from last season's 23-12-6 home record.
The schedule is not helping. With a condensed calendar due to the February Olympic break, Montreal is entering a three-games-in-four-days stretch with limited practice time and growing wear.
Defenceman Mike Matheson remains day-to-day with an upper-body injury, thinning an already stressed blue line. Those gaps have shown most clearly during rough second periods at home.
Chicago arrives struggling as well. The Blackhawks sit at 13-14-6, riding a three-game losing streak and missing Connor Bedard, who leads them with 19 goals and 44 points in 31 games.
For Veleno, though, the focus is simple. Friday is about pace, honesty, and reminding Chicago exactly what it let walk away.
Previously on Chicago Hockey Insider
| POLL |
DECEMBRE 18 | 42 ANSWERS Ex-Blackhawk plots revenge as Chicago visits the Canadiens Friday: 'A revenge game for me' Will Joe Veleno make the Blackhawks regret the trade Friday? |
| Yes revenge | 6 | 14.3 % |
| Quiet night | 21 | 50 % |
| Canadiens win | 6 | 14.3 % |
| Blackhawks win | 9 | 21.4 % |
| List of polls |