The Chicago Blackhawks kicked off their preseason with a 3-2 road loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night. On the scoreboard, it was a close contest. In reality, it was a night of teaching moments: for new head coach Jeff Blashill, for a young defense still trying to figure out his system, and for the prospects fighting to earn roster spots.
The Hawks iced a lineup that mixed NHL regulars with a large group of youngsters. It showed. They were outshot 43-17, often looked lost in their own zone, and if not for goaltender Arvid Söderblom, the game could have been lopsided.
Still, there were some bright spots — Connor Bedard scoring a power-play goal, Wyatt Kaiser finding the back of the net, and flashes of skill from Frank Nazar, Oliver Moore, and Artyom Levshunov.
Blashill’s Honest Assessment of Blackhawks Loss
After the game, Jeff Blashill didn’t sugarcoat what he saw.
“Everything is new, systems are new, and we played like we were thinking,” he said. “When you think a lot, you play slow.
They beat us to pretty much every loose puck. That didn’t surprise me. I knew we were going to be tired, and our systems aren’t natural yet. I’m OK with that. That’s why we’re putting the work in.”
It was a fair reflection of what unfolded. The Blackhawks looked like a team in transition — trying to process a new defensive structure while facing an aggressive, fast Detroit group.
They gave up too much space in front of their net, turned pucks over under pressure, and spent long stretches chasing instead of dictating.
First Period: Energy Early, But Costly Mistakes
The Blackhawks came out with some jump. Bedard’s presence was obvious from the first shift, winning four of five draws in the opening period and creating offensive looks. The line of Moore, Nazar, and Aidan Thompson showed great speed and puck pursuit, though they often looked for the extra pass instead of shooting.
Still, mistakes added up. Colton Dach’s penalty set up a Detroit power play goal, as the Hawks left too much room in front of Söderblom.
Later, Levshunov took a penalty of his own, and the Hawks found themselves defending far too much.
Ethan Del Mastro led the team with over 10 minutes of ice time in the first, paired with Sam Rinzel, who skated 8:28. Both looked steady but were under pressure often.
Second Period: Bedard Breaks Through
Early in the second, the Hawks finally capitalized on the power play. Nazar won the draw, Rinzel and Bedard played catch at the top, and the 19-year-old superstar ripped home his first goal of the preseason.
It was the kind of shot Chicago fans will never get tired of seeing.
Unfortunately, the momentum didn’t last. Detroit regained the lead just 100 seconds later, with heavy traffic in front of Söderblom making life difficult. The Hawks took two more penalties in the frame — Thompson late in the period after Levshunov’s earlier call. By the end of two periods, Chicago had been short-handed four times, making it hard to find rhythm.
Söderblom was the story. He stopped 27 of 29 through 40 minutes, including several high-danger saves that kept the Hawks within striking distance. Blashill praised him after the game:
“Not just 40 saves but some really good saves. He played excellent, and the game could have gotten one-sided without him. Great job by Arvid.”
Third Period: Flashes, Then a Costly Mistake
The Blackhawks tied the game just over six minutes into the third. Levshunov carried the puck up ice, Thompson found Kaiser trailing, and the young defenseman ripped a shot past Detroit’s goalie to make it 2-2.
It was one of the few times the Hawks won a battle, transitioned quickly, and executed with purpose.
But mistakes returned. With about eight minutes left, Bedard had his pocket picked in the neutral zone.
The Wings countered quickly, and after a scramble, Emmitt Finnie buried the rebound off Rinzel’s skate. That 3-2 goal held up as the game-winner.
Chicago pushed late, but poor execution killed their chances. Too many hard, inaccurate passes and not enough clean looks at the net. The final horn sounded on a 3-2 loss, with Detroit clearly the sharper team.
Blackhawks Player Notes
- Connor Bedard: Logged 20:53 of ice time, scored a power-play goal, and won 70% of his draws. Showed flashes but didn’t have the puck enough in the second and third.
- Arvid Söderblom: Outstanding with 40 saves. Without him, this game is a blowout. Chicago’s young defense left him exposed far too often.
- Artyom Levshunov: Mixed night. Took two penalties but showed his high-end skill on the rush that led to Kaiser’s goal. His ceiling is clear, but his defensive game is still raw.
- Sam Rinzel: Team-high 24:00, credited with four hits, three blocked shots, and five shots on net. He looked more comfortable as the game went on. This was a strong showing for a 19-year-old.
- Ethan Del Mastro: Played 21:42 with four hits. Had moments where he looked solid, but also some rough shifts. Didn’t do enough to separate himself in the roster battle.
- Frank Nazar / Oliver Moore: Their line with Aidan Thompson brought speed and energy but passed up too many shooting chances. Nazar was solid in the faceoff circle, finishing at 50%.
- Wyatt Kaiser: Took some big hits early but bounced back with a goal in the third. Logged 17:36 and showed resilience.
- Lukas Reichel: Quiet night. After one early rush, he wasn’t much of a factor. Needs to be more noticeable in upcoming games.
- Colton Dach: Played a physical game with six hits. Took a penalty that led to Detroit’s first goal but showed willingness to battle.
My Three Takeaways
- Sam Rinzel Will Be a Player. It wasn’t perfect, but Rinzel showed why he’s so highly regarded. Big frame, smooth skating, strong vision, and not afraid to use his body. Once he’s paired with a stabilizer like Vlasic, he’s going to look better and better.
- Goalies Will Carry the Load. This season will feature plenty of mistakes from a young defense. Turnovers, missed coverages, and breakdowns will happen. That means Söderblom and Spencer Knight will need to hold the fort many nights. If tonight is any indication, they’ll face heavy shot totals often. Söderblom was excellent, and he’ll need to deliver 40-plus quality starts to keep the Hawks competitive.
- Nobody Won a Job Tonight. For players like Moore, Dach, Reichel, Korchinski, Greene, and Del Mastro, this was a mixed bag. Some positives, some struggles, but no one clearly staked a claim. That’s fine — it’s one preseason game. The important part is whether they take lessons from this and show improvement over the next five games.
The Bottom Line: Blackhawks Show Growing Pains
It was sloppy, disjointed, and at times frustrating. But that’s preseason hockey, especially for a team with a new coach and so many young players.
Blashill expected growing pains, and he got them. The positives? Bedard scoring, Kaiser bouncing back, Rinzel showing promise, and Söderblom proving he’s ready for more responsibility.
Patience is the theme. The Hawks aren’t building for tonight. They’re building for the future — and nights like this, as rough as they look, are part of that process.
The Blackhawks will be back on the ice Saturday night in St. Louis, looking to clean things up and keep building toward October 7.
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