The Chicago Blackhawks were dealt a brutal hand on Friday night — returning from Carolina around 3 a.m. and dropping the puck less than 15 hours later against the hottest team in the NHL. On the second night of a back-to-back and facing a Tampa Bay Lightning club riding a 14-0-1 run since Dec. 20, everything was stacked against Chicago.
Yet the Blackhawks showed grit and resilience, earning a hard-fought point in a 2–1 shootout loss. Ryan Greene scored the lone goal for Chicago, while goaltender Arvid Söderblom was outstanding, making multiple big saves to keep the Hawks alive all night. Tampa Bay controlled much of the play and outshot Chicago 30–14 through regulation, but Söderblom’s performance forced extra time.
It marked the third straight game in which the Blackhawks picked up a point and gave them three of a possible four points against the Lightning this season — an impressive result given the circumstances.
THE GAME SUMMARY
The Blackhawks were pushed to their limits in a way they hadn’t experienced all season. Facing the Carolina Hurricanes on the road Thursday night and returning home less than 15 hours later to take on the red-hot Tampa Bay Lightning, Chicago ran into two elite teams playing at full throttle.
Both opponents showed why they sit among the NHL’s best. Carolina and Tampa Bay attacked relentlessly, applying pressure shift after shift and forcing the Blackhawks to defend for long stretches. At times, Chicago struggled to exit its zone cleanly, and the underlying numbers reflected that challenge. Across the two games at five-on-five, scoring chances heavily favored the opposition. Still, the Blackhawks found ways to survive.
Strong goaltending made the difference. Spencer Knight helped steal points in Carolina, and Arvid Söderblom followed with one of his best performances of the season against Tampa Bay. Chicago also delivered timely offense when it mattered most, allowing them to walk away with points on both nights — a shootout win Thursday and a shootout loss Friday.
Against the Lightning, Tampa Bay controlled much of the first 40 minutes. They didn’t generate many Grade-A looks, but they owned puck possession and dictated play. The Lightning spent shift after shift in the offensive zone, forcing Chicago to defend and recover. Despite being outshot and out-attempted, the Blackhawks remained tied 1–1 heading into the third period — a testament to Söderblom’s calm and positioning in goal.
Chicago’s lone goal came off a heads-up sequence from its young forwards. Oliver Moore showed patience at the blue line, waiting for Nick Foligno to clear the zone before advancing the puck. Moore then spotted Ryan Greene cutting through the middle, and Greene made no mistake. With Andrei Vasilevskiy isolated, Greene sold the fake and snapped the puck past him for his seventh goal of the season.
Greene’s confidence continues to grow. After enduring a long goal drought earlier in the year, he has now scored three times in his last seven games. Rather than changing his approach, Greene has focused on finishing the chances he earns — a small adjustment that’s producing big results.
At the other end, Söderblom delivered exactly what the Blackhawks needed. Coming off a difficult outing last weekend, he responded by stopping 30 of 31 shots, giving Chicago a chance to win on a night when opportunities were limited. His performance allowed the Blackhawks to settle into the game and push back late.
The third period was Chicago’s strongest stretch. The pace evened out, the forecheck improved, and the Blackhawks generated their best looks of the night. Frank Nazar and André Burakovsky were especially dangerous, forcing Tampa Bay to defend instead of attack. Chicago carried that momentum into overtime and had chances to end it before the shootout decided the outcome.
Jeff Blashill also adjusted on the fly. After experimenting with line combinations early, he reverted to more familiar units as the game progressed, helping the Blackhawks regain rhythm. Defensively, rookie Artyom Levshunov logged increased ice time and responded with a more confident and composed performance.
In the end, the Blackhawks didn’t get the second point — but they earned respect. Taking points from two of the NHL’s top teams on consecutive nights showed growth, resilience, and belief. For a team still building, those lessons may prove just as valuable as the standings.
MY TAKEAWAYS AFTER 51 GAMES
1. Blackhawks fans should feel positive about this team
Despite being in a rebuild, there are many reasons for Blackhawks fans to feel encouraged. From the start of the season, this team has shown buy-in, structure, and growth. Head coach Jeff Blashill deserves real credit for building a strong defensive identity with the roster he has.
Yes, this is a young team. Yes, goaltending has played a major role in outcomes. But the defensive system itself is impressive. Blashill does not have a top-25 defenseman — maybe not even a top-40 — yet the Blackhawks are difficult to play against in their own zone.
Chicago mixes coverage well: man-to-man, box-plus-one, and what I call the “swamp” — two defensemen pressuring in the corner, one forward supporting, another protecting the front of the net, and one more guarding the slot. Most importantly, every player is buying in.
Since January 1st, the Blackhawks have allowed just 2.58 goals against per game (7th in the NHL) over 12 games with a 7-4-1 record, and their penalty kill sits at 93.5% (2nd in the NHL). That doesn’t happen without commitment — especially from the forwards helping the defense.
2. The next wave behind Bedard and Nazar is emerging
Behind Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar, we are now seeing Ryan Greene, Oliver Moore, and Nick Lardis grow into meaningful NHL roles. With Bedard and Nazar back in the lineup, Greene has been able to settle into a bottom-six role alongside Moore and Lardis — an ideal environment for development.
These young players are learning “in the trenches,” game after game. Their chemistry is improving, their reads are getting quicker, and they are learning how to play within the game instead of forcing it. Hockey is always about what’s next — and their anticipation continues to improve.
Ryan Greene’s growth stands out. His seventh goal of the season is a clear sign of adaptation. At the NHL level, great junior or NCAA players must adjust — and Greene has done that. He’s becoming a reliable 200-foot center: winning faceoffs, shutting down opponents, and contributing on the penalty kill. His improvement since Game 1 has been remarkable.
Oliver Moore deserves more attention. He is learning fast at the NHL level and gaining confidence with every game. Through 39 games, Moore has 16 points, including points in back-to-back games and the shootout game-winning goal in Carolina. Playing regularly with Lardis, real chemistry is starting to form.
Moore’s speed already separates him. He has recorded six bursts over 22 mph and 103 bursts between 20–22 mph (EDGE), consistently using his acceleration to create space and generate opportunities for his linemates. As he adds strength and muscle this offseason — improving his ability to win puck battles and protect the puck — Moore projects as a valuable top-nine forward with the Blackhawks.
Nick Lardis continues to flash elite offensive skill. We knew he could score, and after a month in the NHL, his confidence and ability are clear. His wrist shot is powerful, and once he learns to consistently create space and attack scoring areas, he has legitimate 30-goal potential. I can see a future top-six role — possibly in the mold of a Jake Guentzel or Bryan Rust. His adaptation curve is trending in the right direction.
3. Meaningful games during a rebuild matter
Perhaps the biggest takeaway of all: the Blackhawks are playing meaningful games deep into the season. Few expected this team to be just five points out of a Wild Card spot after 51 games.
Beyond the standings, the real win is development — individual improvement, a clear team identity, and a culture forming under Kyle Davidson and Jeff Blashill. Chicago has played 24 of its 51 games decided by one goal. It’s not perfect, but for a rebuilding team, consistency and competitiveness matter more than results alone.
With 31 games remaining, if the Blackhawks continue to play this way and build on this identity, this season should be viewed as a major step forward.
NEXT GAME
The Blackhawks return home on Sunday, January 25, as they host the Florida Panthers at the United Center. Puck drop is set for 6:00 PM CDT.
Florida comes in playing .500 hockey, going 5-5-0 in their last 10 games, while the Blackhawks are 5-4-1 over their last 10. Chicago has been inconsistent at home this season, posting an 11-12-5 record at the United Center.
This matchup sets up as a good test for the Blackhawks, as both teams look to build momentum heading into the next stretch of the schedule.
KEEP READING:
Blackhawks October Report Card
Blackhawks: November Report Card
24 1 goal games, i also wonder how many of those 1 goal games were not because of an empty netter scored by the opponent I’d say the number has got to be somewhere between 5 and 10 games this season.
Anyways i was thinking about something else i posted, it’s crazy Arty has played this entire season and logically this is the worst of Arty we are going to see? I cringe at some of the plays he makes but those are becoming less and less.
Love that our defenseman are more physical, I do think it’s time to trade Grzelcyk and bring up Korchinski, the biggest surprise to me is the evolution of Creviers game, keeping it simple lately, physical, and Blashill is rewarding him more time.
ENGA;; is 6 TOTAL…. Levshunov is doing okay… Yes, Crevier and Kaiser…