Jake Evans scores twice in the Canadiens' 4-1 victory over the Blackhawks

CHICAGO (AP) — Jake Evans scored twice and assisted on Kaiden Guhle’s goal and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 on Friday night.

Evans’ third point, a feed to Guhle with 1:34 left in the second period, matched his career high. Montreal is 4-1-1 in its last six games, while Chicago has dropped two straight and four of its last six.

A wide-open game tightened up late in the first period, which worked to Montreal’s advantage. Chicago opened the scoring on Connor Bedard’s second goal of the season 4:23 in, but the Canadiens began to control the play, and by mid-period were limiting Chicago’s chances.

Jacob Fowler, who made 20 saves, was lightly tested the rest of the game despite five Chicago power plays, and needed to make only three saves in the final period.

Evans’ first goal of the game and season tied it with 2:31 left in the first. His second, a wrist shot over goalie Spencer Knight’s stick side with the Canadiens skating short-handed, gave Montreal a 2-1 lead 7:51 into the second period.

Guhle also beat Knight on the stick side, his shot from the left point screened by Josh Anderson.

Mike Matheson added an empty-net goal with 2:38 remaining.

Knight stopped 24 shots.

Canadiens: At Winnipeg on Sunday for the outdoor Heritage Classic.

Blackhawks: Hosts Florida on Sunday.

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (98) skates with the puck against Montreal Canadiens defenseman Noah Dobson (53) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexandre Carrier shoots during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Montreal Canadiens center Kirby Dach, left, celebrates with center Jake Evans (71) after Evans scored during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans (71) shoots against Chicago Blackhawks center Ryan Greene, right, during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jacob Fowler, right, makes a save as defenseman Mike Matheson, left, and Chicago Blackhawks left wing Tyler Bertuzzi, center, watch during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Tanzania’s jailed opposition leader Tundu Lissu will begin a hunger strike Monday to protest prison authorities’ alleged refusal to allow court-ordered private consultations with his lawyers, his lawyer said Saturday.

Lissu, who survived being shot 16 times in a 2017 assassination attempt, faces a treason charge carrying a possible death sentence. The leader of Chadema, Tanzania’s main opposition party, has been detained for more than 18 months, with a final judgment scheduled for Nov. 6.

The lawyer, Rugemeleza Nshala, said Lissu told him of the planned strike during a meeting in prison. Speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam, Nshala said he warned Lissu about the implications for his health because he relies on medication.

Nshala said Lissu was prepared to stop taking his medication.

“I am ready to face the consequences, but I will fight for the rule of law,” Nshala quoted him as saying.

Nshala said authorities had denied private consultations despite a court order and, on some occasions, barred access to Lissu altogether.

Lissu questioned why court decisions keeping him in custody were enforced while an order protecting his access to lawyers was allegedly disregarded, Nshala said.

Prison authorities, police and the government had issued no public statements on the planned hunger strike.

Lissu was arrested April 9, 2025, after addressing a rally calling for electoral reforms ahead of that year’s general election. He was charged with treason the following day.

He has spent periods in exile since the assassination attempt, citing threats to his life. In May 2025, he went on hunger strike to protest being required to appear in court remotely rather than in person.

Presidential candidates from Tanzania’s two main opposition parties were barred from contesting the October 2025 election, which triggered protests and deadly violence.

An inquiry into the election violence found in April that at least 518 people died. Mohamed Chande Othman, who chaired the inquiry, said the toll was likely higher because some families buried relatives without taking their bodies to morgues.

The United Nations had earlier called for an investigation into the killings and reports that police removed bodies from mortuaries to undisclosed locations. Chadema put the death toll at about 2,000, a figure the U.N. said it could not verify amid insecurity and an internet shutdown during the election period.

FILE -Main opposition leader Tundu Lissu arrives at the High Court of Tanzania as his treason trial continues before a three-judge bench in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Feb 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Florence Majani, File)