The Chicago Blackhawks got a big boost from their future on Tuesday night… and it paid off right away.
In his first shift, first game, and first point in the NHL, Anton Frondell made an immediate impact. The 3rd overall pick from the 2025 Draft didn’t waste any time, helping spark the Blackhawks to a 4-3 win over the New York Islanders at UBS Arena.
And he wasn’t alone.
Fellow rookie Nick Lardis had a breakout night with his first 3-point game in the NHL, showing confidence, vision, and offensive instincts. Frondell finished his debut with 15:43 of ice time, and you could already see the chemistry building with this young core.
Game Summary
The Chicago Blackhawks got a big boost from their future on Tuesday night… and it showed immediately.
In his first shift, first game, and first NHL point, Anton Frondell made an instant impact. The 3rd overall pick from the 2025 Draft helped spark the Blackhawks to a 4-3 win over the New York Islanders at UBS Arena.
And he wasn’t alone.
Fellow rookie Nick Lardis delivered a breakout performance with his first 3-point game in the NHL, showing poise and offensive creativity all night long. Frondell finished his debut with 15:43 of ice time, already looking comfortable at the NHL level.
Game Summary
It was a strong response from Chicago.
Frank Nazar and Tyler Bertuzzi each had a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks (27-31-13), who snapped a tough stretch after losing four of their previous five games.
In goal, Arvid Soderblom was outstanding, stopping 44 shots and holding off a late push.
For New York, Anders Lee, Simon Holmstrom, and Calum Ritchie scored.
A key turning point came in goal for the Islanders.
David Rittich allowed 3 goals on 12 shots in the first period and was pulled after 20 minutes. Ilya Sorokin took over and played the final 40 minutes, making 11 saves in relief.
How It Happened
The Islanders came out fast.
Just 49 seconds into the game, Anders Lee opened the scoring with a deflection to make it 1-0. Soon after, Bo Horvat had a great chance to extend the lead, but Soderblom came up big.
That moment shifted momentum.
Lardis tied the game 1-1 at 12:46 after a turnover by Mathew Barzal at the blue line.
Then came the rookie connection.
Frondell set up Ilya Mikheyev on a 3-on-2 rush, and Mikheyev buried it to give Chicago a 2-1 lead.
The Blackhawks kept pushing.
Bertuzzi made it 3-1 late in the first period, and Nazar extended the lead to 4-1 early in the second after a strong play by Lardis behind the net.
Islanders Push Back
The Islanders didn’t go away.
Simon Holmstrom cut the deficit to 4-2, and later Calum Ritchie made it 4-3 with just over three minutes remaining.
New York pushed hard late, but Soderblom held the line to secure the win.
Playoff Impact
This loss is a big one for the Islanders.
They have now dropped 3 of their last 4 games and fell out of a playoff position. They are tied in points with the Ottawa Senators for the final Eastern Conference wild card spot — but with one more game played.
The pressure is officially on.
Notes
One more impressive performance came from Matthew Schaefer.
He logged 31:59 of ice time, setting an NHL record for most minutes played by a teenager, while adding an assist and finishing plus-2.
Meanwhile, Islanders defenseman Tony DeAngelo left the game at 12:46 of the first period with a lower-body injury and will be reevaluated.
Game Stats
| Category | Chicago Blackhawks | New York Islanders |
| Shots on Goal | 24 | 47 |
| Face-off % | 41.8% | 58.2% |
| Power Play | 0% (0/2) | 0% (0/2) |
| Hits | 17 | 31 |
| Blocked Shots | 14 | 12 |
| Giveaways | 15 | 10 |
| Takeaways | 4 | 3 |
My Takeaways
Anton Frondell made a very strong impression in his NHL debut. It’s always hard to know how nervous a young player is before his first game, but on the ice, he looked calm, confident, and in control. He finished with 15:43 of ice time, one assist, two shots, and two blocked shots, but what stood out most was his decision-making.
His tape-to-tape pass in the neutral zone to Ilya Mikheyev was a perfect example of his vision and timing, creating a scoring opportunity by allowing Mikheyev to use his speed and beat the defender. Throughout the game, Frondell showed strong hockey IQ, good positioning, and confidence with the puck. It was an excellent first NHL game, and if he is part of the lineup next season, he has the potential to improve the top-six forwards for the Chicago Blackhawks.
The young prospects continue to step up, which is exactly what this team needs at this stage of the season. Nick Lardis had his first three-point game in the NHL and is clearly gaining confidence. With seven goals and 12 points in 30 games, he is starting to look more comfortable at this level. His offensive instincts are evident, and with more development, especially on the defensive side, he has the potential to become a top-six forward capable of scoring 25 to 30 goals per season.
Frank Nazar also delivered another strong performance with two points, marking his fifth multi-point game in March. After needing some time to regain his form following injury, he is now playing with confidence and showing his strengths as a playmaker with excellent vision. On the blue line, Artyom Levshunov continues to log heavy minutes and show steady improvement. His physical presence has been noticeable, with 21 hits over his last six games, and while the points are not there yet, his development is clearly progressing in the right direction.
One point worth noting is that Ethan Del Mastro played only 11:26, and giving him more ice time would be valuable for his development. Overall, this is the time of the season to trust and develop the young players.
In goal, Arvid Soderblom delivered his best performance of the season. After facing more than 40 shots in consecutive games, he was finally rewarded with a win. His 44-save performance was crucial, especially as the Islanders pushed hard late in the game. While his season overall has been inconsistent, these last two performances could help build confidence heading into the final stretch. With one year remaining on his contract, finishing the season strong could be important for both his development and the organization moving forward.
Next Game
The Chicago Blackhawks will be back in action on Thursday, March 26 at 7:00 PM EDT, when they visit the Philadelphia Flyers.
Philadelphia is coming off a 3-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, so they will be looking to bounce back on home ice. For Chicago, this is another great opportunity to keep building momentum and continue giving valuable minutes to their young core.
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