The Chicago Blackhawks controlled this game for 40 minutes. They owned the pace, dictated the matchups, built a 2–0 lead, and looked ready to extend their perfect record when leading after two periods. Instead, the third period brought a full collapse — one that included blown coverage, no offensive push, and a controversial unsportsmanlike penalty on Connor Bedard that ultimately decided the game. A night that should have ended with two points became a painful reminder of how thin the margin is for a young, developing roster.
GAME SUMMARY
1st Period — Hawks Control Play but Lose Burakovsky
Chicago started the night with structure, speed, and puck possession. At 5-on-5, they generated more dangerous looks, posting a 5–1 high-danger chance advantage.
Even though the shot attempts were tight (16–15 CHI), the Hawks had the better quality. Seattle outshot Chicago 9–7 on the period’s scoreboard, but the Hawks were the team dictating pace.
Chicago earned the only power play of the period at 17:23 when Chandler Stephenson tripped Tyler Bertuzzi. The Hawks generated pressure but did not score.
A major turning point came late: André Burakovsky took a high, dangerous hit from Ryan Lindgren that knocked off his helmet.
Burakovsky went straight to the room and did not return, and the Blackhawks immediately ruled him out for the night. No penalty was called, even though the hit looked deliberate.
Chicago finished the period scoreless but clearly in control.
2nd Period — Full Control by Chicago
The second period finally looked like the Blackhawks team fans want to see. Chicago came out with speed, won puck battles, controlled the middle of the ice, and pushed the pace shift after shift.
For a team that usually struggles in third periods and often needs insurance goals, this middle frame was exactly what they needed.
Just 43 seconds in, Chicago set the tone. Frank Nazar and Teuvo Teravainen worked a sharp passing play that opened up the Kraken defense, and Tyler Bertuzzi finished it by jumping to the net and tapping the puck in.
It was the kind of quick-strike goal Chicago hasn’t been getting enough of this season, and it energized the entire bench.
Midway through the period, both teams exchanged power plays. Seattle went first at 9:01, but Chicago’s penalty kill handled it without giving up anything dangerous.
Less than a minute later, the Blackhawks got their chance — and they didn’t waste it. Bertuzzi made a slick one-handed feed across the slot, and Teravainen ripped home the 2–0 goal at 10:07.
Artyom Levshunov earned the secondary assist, giving him points in six of his last nine games in November, and Nazar quietly extended his point streak to three straight games.
If the goals didn’t tell the story, the numbers did. Chicago completely smothered Seattle:
- 24–8 Corsi For
- 11–0 scoring chances
- 9–1 high-danger chances through 40 minutes
- 40–23 shot attempts after two periods
- Second-period shots: 14–6 Chicago
Every line rolled. Every defense pair moved the puck cleanly. Seattle barely touched the puck in dangerous areas.
For a team that usually hangs on for dear life in the third period, this was a major step. Chicago didn’t just score — they built a period that gave them control, confidence, and a real chance to close out the game.
3rd Period — Momentum Flip, Defensive Breakdowns, and Postgame Frustration
The third period completely flipped the script on a game the Blackhawks had controlled for 40 minutes. Seattle came out skating downhill, and Chicago immediately struggled to match their pace.
Puck retrievals were sloppy, breakouts died on the first pass, and the Hawks spent almost the entire period defending.
Seattle’s push paid off at 5:09. Brandon Montour sent a low shot toward the net, and it pinballed off Oscar Fisker Molgaard and then Tye Kartye before slipping behind Spencer Knight.
It was the kind of chaotic, greasy goal you give up when you’re stuck in your own zone for too long.
The Kraken kept coming. Less than three minutes later, at 7:13, Ryker Evans fired a shot from the high slot and Shane Wright redirected it cleanly past Knight.
Suddenly the game was tied 2–2, and the Blackhawks still didn’t have a shot on net in the period.
Chicago never re-established any pressure. They were outshot 12–3 in the frame and went more than 14 minutes without a single puck on goal. All the structure and confidence from the first two periods vanished.
Then came the sequence everyone will talk about.
With 4:16 left, Connor Bedard broke in alone on a partial breakaway and clearly got slashed on the hands as he attempted to shoot.
There was no call. Bedard turned to the official in frustration — and immediately received a two-minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Instead of potentially going on the power play, the Hawks were suddenly killing a penalty in the final minutes.
Seattle capitalized. At 17:42, Brandon Montour found Jaden Schwartz at the right edge of the crease, and Schwartz fired the puck past Knight to give the Kraken their first lead of the night — and the eventual 3–2 win.
After the game, Bedard took responsibility, even though he felt the original slash should have been called:
“I have to control my emotions better. I put our team in a vulnerable spot. I can’t let that happen again.”
Head coach Jeff Blashill was far more blunt:
“It’s a penalty. He gets his glove slashed — that’s a penalty.”
He then criticized the official’s reaction:
“Whatever was said after… it better have been really, really personal to decide a game like that.”
Blashill also pointed to his team’s readiness:
“We had too many guys not ready to compete. This is an everyday league.”
Several players admitted the same thing: this was a frustrating loss, especially considering how dominant the first 40 minutes were and how avoidable the collapse felt.
Game Stats
| Category | Kraken (SEA) | Blackhawks (CHI) |
| Shots on Goal | 27 | 24 |
| Faceoff % | 51% (26/51) | 49% (25/51) |
| Power Play | 1/3 (33.3%) | 1/2 (50%) |
| Penalty Minutes | 4 | 6 |
| Hits | 16 | 11 |
| Blocked Shots | 10 | 6 |
| Giveaways | 16 | 19 |
| Takeaways | 4 | 7 |
BlackHawks Players Highlights
Tylre Bertuzzi 1G 1A 2PTS TOI 20:50 1 SOG
Teuvo Teravainen 1G 1A 2PTS +1 TOI 21:26 1PPG 2SOG
Frank Nazar 1A 1PTS TOI 20:09 4SOG
Ryan Greene 0PTS TOI 20:08 4SOG 2BLK
Ayrtom Levshunov 1A 1PTS TOI 15:20 2SOG 2HITS
3 STARS OF THE GAME
- ⭐1st Star — Jaden Schwartz (SEA) Goal: 1 | Points: 1 | GWG (PPG)
⭐⭐ 2nd Star — Brandon Montour (SEA) Assists: 2 | Points: 2
⭐⭐⭐ 3rd Star — Tyler Bertuzzi (CHI) Goal: 1 | Assist: 1 | Points: 2
My 3 Takeaways
1. Tyler Bertuzzi Shows His Full Value — Again
Tyler Bertuzzi returned to the lineup and immediately reminded everyone why he has become such a vital piece of Chicago’s identity.
His presence was felt all over the ice — on the forecheck, around the crease, and especially on the power play, where his movement and touch helped reset the Hawks’ rhythm.
Bertuzzi continues to produce at an elite clip: 7 goals and 10 points in his last five games, and 8 goals in his last seven. His chemistry with Jeff Blashill clearly carried over from Detroit, where he also thrived under the same coach.
When Bertuzzi is moving his feet and camping in the high-danger areas, everything around him opens up.
He currently leads the NHL in goals scored from the high-danger short area, and performances like tonight show exactly why. He isn’t just scoring — he’s creating chaos, extending plays, and elevating every linemate he touches.
2. Bedard Will Learn — and So Will the Team
Connor Bedard played a strong game with five shots on goal and several dangerous possessions, but his late emotional reaction became the turning point of the night.
He felt he was slashed on a breakaway — and he was — but his response to the missed call put Chicago shorthanded at the worst possible moment. Seattle scored the game-winner on the ensuing power play.
Bedard owned the mistake immediately after the game, acknowledging he has to control his emotions. It’s part of the learning curve for a 20-year-old who is already the face of the franchise and a leader in the room.
But the lesson isn’t just for Bedard. Chicago’s entire roster was caught off guard by Seattle’s third-period push.
This was their first loss of the season when leading after two periods, snapping a six-game streak. The Hawks didn’t manage the momentum swing, didn’t adjust, and didn’t generate the pushback needed to close.
In hockey, nights like this happen — especially to young teams. You don’t lose; you learn. And now Chicago knows exactly what it looks like when they’re not ready for a desperate opponent’s full press.
3. Teuvo Teravainen Remains the Most Underrated Hawk
Teuvo Teravainen quietly delivered another excellent performance, picking up two more points — his fifth multi-point game of the season. With six points in his last five games and 15 points in 20 games overall, he continues to be one of Chicago’s most consistent, dependable top-six players.
You rarely hear his name compared to Bedard, Knight, Nazar, or Bertuzzi, but Teravainen is often the glue that keeps the offense balanced.
He brings structure, intelligence, and experience, and his +8 rating reflects the calm efficiency he brings to every shift.
He doesn’t demand the spotlight — he just makes the players around him better, and nights like this reinforce how essential he is to Chicago’s success.
My Final Thought
The Blackhawks will look back at this one knowing they let a winnable game slip away. For 40 minutes they controlled every meaningful aspect — pace, possession, scoring chances, and special teams momentum.
But the third period served as a reality check: no lead is safe, and no opponent is going to quit. For a young team still learning how to manage pressure, this loss stings, but it also teaches.
Chicago has the talent, the structure, and the scoring depth to beat anyone; now they must learn how to finish what they start.
Next Game
Chicago heads right back into action tonight at 7:00 PM in Buffalo for the second half of a back-to-back against the Sabres.
It’s a quick turnaround and an important test of the team’s resilience — and a chance to immediately respond after a frustrating third period against Seattle.
KEEP READING:
Why Levshunov Is Impressing the Blackhawks Early
Hawks Search For The Right Fit Beside BedardBlackhawks Future Outlook: Phase 2 of the Rebuild Begins
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