The Chicago Blackhawks’ season continues to unravel. Tuesday’s 3–1 home loss to the Philadelphia Flyers marked the Hawks’ sixth straight defeat. It’s their ninth loss in December in just 11 games, and a troubling 0-5-0 record without Connor Bedard. The offense has completely dried up, with only eight goals scored over the last five games, highlighting a team that looks short on confidence and solutions. Ryan Donato scored the lone goal, and Spencer Knight turned aside 23 shots, but it wasn’t enough as the Blackhawks (13-17-6) once again came up short in a game that reflected a total collapse on both ends of the ice.
Game Summary
1st Period
The opening period felt more like a dump-and-chase drill than a fast-paced NHL game. Both teams combined for just 10 shots on goal (6–4 Flyers), with Philadelphia recording its second shot of the period at 10:17 — and unfortunately for Chicago, it ended up in the back of the net.
Despite controlling much of the play at 5-on-5, the Blackhawks owned a 7–3 edge in scoring chances but couldn’t turn pressure into offense. Chicago spent most of the period chasing the game instead of finishing plays.
Travis Konecny opened the scoring at 10:17 when Trevor Zegras fed him from the left faceoff circle, and Konecny slipped the puck past Spencer Knight’s glove to make it 1–0. The assist extended Zegras’ point streak to nine games, during which he now has five goals and six assists.
Special teams made little impact, with each team getting one power-play opportunity. Overall, it was a quiet, forgettable first period — one that won’t be remembered for its pace or creativity, but one that put the Blackhawks behind early once again.
2nd Period
Both teams traded a goal in the second period, but special teams once again tilted the ice in Philadelphia’s favor. The Flyers doubled their lead early when Noah Cates scored on the power play after Chicago was whistled for too many men on the ice — the Blackhawks’ NHL-leading eighth bench minor of the season. Cates snapped a quick shot from the slot after a perfect feed from Travis Konecny, giving Konecny his second point of the night and making it 2–0.
Chicago responded late in the period during 4-on-4 play. At 18:30, Ryan Donato pulled the Blackhawks within one when he took a cross-ice pass from defenseman Matt Grzelcyk, stepped in from the right point, and fired a wrist shot past Samuel Ersson for his ninth goal of the season.
Special teams told the story again. Both teams had a power-play opportunity, but the Flyers were the only team to convert, finishing the night with the lone power-play goal.
One area where Chicago clearly dominated was the faceoff circle. The Blackhawks won an eye-popping 23 of 29 draws in the second period, with Ryan Greene winning half of a team-high 12 faceoffs through two periods. After 40 minutes, the Flyers held a slim 16–14 edge in shots on goal, setting the stage for a tight third period.
3rd Period
The Flyers may be in a rebuild, but they play with structure and experience, and that showed again in the third period. With Rick Tocchet behind the bench, Philadelphia did exactly what good teams do when protecting a lead — they closed the game. They had done it recently against the Canadiens, and they repeated the formula again on Tuesday night.
Chicago struggled to generate offense, managing just seven shots on goal in the third period and creating very few quality scoring chances. The Blackhawks were given opportunities to get back into the game with two more power plays, but once again failed to capitalize. Chicago finished the night 0-for-4 on the power play and now has just one power-play goal in its last seven games (1-for-16), a glaring issue during this losing streak.
Late in the game, with the Blackhawks pressing on the power play and Spencer Knight heading to the bench for the extra attacker, a failed setup led to a Flyers breakout the other way. Carl Grundstrom sealed the result with an empty-net goal, putting a frustrating end to the night and locking in a 3–1 Flyers victory.
For the Blackhawks, it was another tough finish — a game that stayed within reach but slipped away due to a lack of execution when it mattered most.
Locker Room: Comments
Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill pointed to missed execution despite liking parts of Chicago’s effort, especially late in the game.
“In the end, we had more chances than they did,” Blashill said. “We didn’t score. I thought even on the power play there at the end, we generated chances. That was probably our best power play. We’ve just got to keep grinding and find a way to score.”
Ryan Donato, who scored Chicago’s lone goal, echoed the frustration but stressed the team’s mindset remains positive despite the losing streak.
“Every loss is frustrating,” Donato said. “It’s a loss. There are going to be frustrating times. There are some things we did well, some things that didn’t go our way. Any loss is frustrating, but there are things we’re going to work
Game Stats
| Stat | Flyers | Blackhawks |
| Score | 3 | 1 |
| Shots on Goal | 26 | 21 |
| Faceoff % | 37.3% | 62.7% |
| Power Play | 1/4 | 0/4 |
| Penalty Minutes | 10 | 10 |
| Hits | 12 | 17 |
| Blocked Shots | 16 | 10 |
| Giveaways | 14 | 17 |
| Takeaways | 4 | 0 |
Three Stars of the Game
⭐ 1st Star – Travis Konecny (PHI)
G: 1 | A: 1 | P: 2
⭐ 2nd Star – Ryan Donato (CHI)
G: 1 | A: 0 | P: 1
⭐ 3rd Star – Noah Cates (PHI)
G: 1 | A: 0 | P: 1
My Takeaway
The Blackhawks are clearly getting worse without Connor Bedard. They are now 0-5-0 without him, and with Nazar also out, the situation is only getting more difficult. This team simply does not have enough offense to compete right now. The forwards are struggling to generate chances, the power play lacks creativity and pace, and 5-on-5 play isn’t any better.
This could turn even uglier if Bedard ends up missing more time. When you are a rebuilding team built around young players with limited NHL experience, losing your top two centers exposes the lack of depth very quickly. Right now, Chicago does not have enough firepower to score consistently or win tight games.
The good news is the three-day break before the Christmas pause. Everyone will get a chance to reset mentally and physically before returning to action. Hopefully, Bedard can return soon and give this lineup the spark it desperately needs.
On the flip side, this stretch is also giving Blackhawks management valuable answers. These games allow the organization to evaluate young players in difficult situations and better understand who can handle responsibility at the NHL level — even if the results on the scoreboard are painful.
Holiday Message
As we head into the holiday season, I want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for reading, supporting, and engaging with our work here at Hockey Hot Stove. Your comments, feedback, and passion for the game truly make this community special.
I wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, filled with good health, happiness, and quality time with loved ones. If you’re traveling, stay safe, enjoy the break, and hopefully catch some great hockey along the way.
I’m truly grateful for your continued support, and I look forward to bringing you more honest, fan-driven hockey coverage in the year ahead. Thank you for being part of this journey.
KEEP READING:
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Blackhawks Weekly Recap (Week 2)
Blackhawks Weekly Recap (Week 3)
Blackhawks Weekly Recap (Week 4)
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Blackhawks Week in Review:Week 7
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Blackhawks Week In Review: (Week 10)
Blackhawks Week In Review: (Week 11)
Blackhawks October Report Card
Blackhawks: November Report Card
