The Blackhawks lost last night to a Buffalo team that desperately needed a win. After the game, head coach Luke Richardson said what we all saw: the first period was a tire fire and it cost them the game. Yes, the Blackhawks came back to tie the game. And yes, two of the three goals the Sabres scored with Arvid Sรยถderblom on the ice were fluky goals. But the opening 20 minutes was flat and the Blackhawks expect better.
- If your immediate takeaway from last night’s game was to point out Sรยถderblom’s won-loss record, I beg that you hit refresh on your cliche commentary app, or — even better — watch the game. Yes, the first goal wasn’t a great one. The second and third I wouldn’t pin on the goaltender. Please don’t immediately point the finger at the easiest target because you’re used to that name being the choice for the blame madlibs.
- After the game, the two players who had a multi-point game, Craig Smith (both goals) and Lukas Reichel (assists on both goals), spoke with the media. And Reichel made it clear the standard to which this year’s team is being held. Yes, Smith and Reichel were on the ice for (and factored in) both Blackhawks goals. They were also on the ice for two goals against. And, if you want to stay in the lineup, you need to play both ends of the sheet.
- With that being said, even with the two goals against, last night was Reichel’s best showing in a long time. He was physically engaged, he skated, he attacked the net (see Smith’s second goal) and he created opportunities for more than just himself. As I said in my postgame last night, THAT is the Reichel we’ve been begging for. Now he just needs to clean up the defensive end of the rink.
- Reichel’s play last night was good, but that doesn’t help the already crowded and complicated forward group for the Blackhawks. He’s still in a fight for ice time with Ryan Donato and Andreas Athanasiou. Last night the Blackhawks were without Pat Maroon and Joey Anderson, which meant all three of them were active. We’ll see how things sort themselves out moving forward because the third line with Anderson has been great and the top six feels pretty secure at this point.
- This wasn’t an ideal moment in the way it started, but I liked the way the Blackhawks handled their business after the fact. Tyler Bertuzzi made a pass that put Philipp Kurashev in a vulnerable position and Peyton Krebs did what he should: he lit Kurashev up like a Christmas tree. To which Bertuzzi took offense and came to the defense of Kurashev, who got up and jumped into the mix and then the dance music turned on. I don’t think Krebs did anything wrong but I like the entire group of five Blackhawks on the ice getting after it. Last year there’s a good chance Kurashev would have pulled himself off the ice and gone to the bench while his teammates chased the puck into the offensive zone.
- We’re six games into the regular season and the Blackhawks are in the upper half of the NHL in expected goals percentage. Why? Because the coaches are coaching the systems and they have guys in the room who are committed to doing their jobs. Good coaching with good systems + committed players = more success.
- After the morning skate on Saturday, head coach Luke Richardson was asked about Landon Slaggert getting a two-year contract extension.
“I was impressed just like last year,” Richardson said. “[Slaggert] plays the game right. I think this is a good year for him to develop. If he gets games up here at some point, great, but if not thatโs what Rockford is for. He had a great training camp and a really good showing at the end of last year when he came up out of college and had a good stint. Weโre impressed with how he plays the game, lot of energy, he has some good speed and [he’s a] smart player. I think he could be a good two-way, all-around player.”
- Slaggert picked up one of the assists on this beautiful Frank Nazar goal last night for the IceHogs.
- How about two game-winning goals from Blackhawks prospects on Saturday night? Nick Lardis made the overtime deposit for Brantford.
- Blackhawks defense prospect Taige Harding made his first goal of the season matter. It was the game-winner in a 2-1 Providence win over Arizona State on Saturday night. He was credited with two shots on net (four attempts) in the game.
- Can I interest you in a pretty assist or two from Oliver Moore? How about four assists from Aidan Thompson? Saturday night was another productive night for Chicago’s next generation.
- Before the Blackhawks game last night I was one of the folks invited to chat with Jason Coyle, the president of Chicago Sports Network, about their debacle I MEAN launch. It isn’t going well, and they know that. They hear us. And they’re trying. But… they still don’t have an answer and their app isn’t available. So… onward.
- Will these guys save the Colorado Avalanche?
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- We’ve already talked about the 2025 NHL Draft a few times, so why not take the Bears’ bye week to get familiar with a few offensive linemen they might consider in the NFL draft this spring?
- Hey, while one of the tenants at the United Center is handing out contract extensions, the other has a young player who wants the bag after barely playing for Chicago, too. Can Josh Giddey do enough to earn a legit extension with the Bulls in one year?