It was the final matchup of the season between the Calgary Flames and the Chicago Blackhawks, and the Flames were determined not to be swept. Chicago had taken the first two meetings back in November, winning 4–0 and 5–2, but this time Calgary found a way to respond. Powered by their special teams, the Flames earned a 3–1 victory at the United Center, scoring once on the power play and once while short-handed.
For the Blackhawks, the loss continued a worrying trend. It marked their third defeat in the last four games, and in each of those losses, Chicago managed to score only one goal—highlighting ongoing offensive struggles at even strength.
Game Summary
Everything in this game was decided early.
The first six minutes of the opening period completely shaped the outcome, with three goals scored — two of them by the Calgary Flames in a span of just under three minutes. The Chicago Blackhawks opened the scoring at 2:38 when captain Nick Foligno scored his second goal of the season, firing a wrist shot from the slot past Devin Cooley to give Chicago a 1–0 lead. It would turn out to be the Blackhawks’ only goal of the night.
Calgary answered quickly on the power play. Just 36 seconds later, Yegor Sharangovich scored his ninth goal of the season to tie the game 1–1, capitalizing on net-front chaos to swing momentum immediately back to the Flames. Moments later, Flames captain Mikael Backlund took full control of the game. Anticipating a drop pass in the neutral zone, Backlund jumped the play, broke in alone, and beat Spencer Knight on the blocker side for a short-handed goal. It was his 12th of the season and gave Calgary a 2–1 lead they would never relinquish.
That short-handed goal was especially significant. It marked the first power-play goal allowed by Chicago in their last 16 opportunities dating back to December 30, after successfully killing off penalties in their previous seven games. On the other side, the Blackhawks’ own power play continued to struggle, finishing the night 0-for-4.
The rest of the game lacked offensive flow. Chicago’s scoring issues remained evident, as they have now produced only six total goals in their last four games. The Flames played a structured road game, relying on disciplined defensive play and solid goaltending rather than pushing the pace offensively.
The second period was the most active stretch, but not because of goals. Instead, the game turned physical, featuring 26 combined penalty minutes, one fight, and eight minor penalties. Despite the increased intensity, neither team could find the back of the net.
Calgary sealed the win late in the third period when Matt Coronato scored into an empty net with one minute remaining, putting the finishing touch on a 3–1 Flames victory at the United Center.
Notes
- Teuvo Teravainen missed the game with an upper-body injury sustained in a 4–1 loss against the Edmonton Oilers on Monday. He is listed as day-to-day.
- Connor Bedard returned to the lineup after missing Monday’s game due to illness. He finished the night without a point, recorded three shots on goal, and was minus-2 in 22:05 of ice time.
- Louis Crevier played the 100th game of his NHL career. Drafted in the seventh round (188th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft, Crevier became just the fourth player selected between the fourth and seventh rounds from that draft class to reach the 100-game milestone.
My Takeaway
Special teams decided this game. Calgary scored twice in those situations — once on the power play and once short-handed — while Chicago went 0-for-4 with the man advantage. In a low-scoring, low-tempo matchup, that gap alone was enough to determine the result.
The bigger issue for the Blackhawks, however, is the continued lack of offense. With just six goals in their last four games, Chicago is averaging only 1.5 goals per game during that stretch. That margin leaves no room for mistakes, especially when the power play fails to produce. Too many offensive possessions ended with one-and-done shots and very little traffic or second-chance pressure around the net.
Once Calgary took the lead, they controlled the pace and forced Chicago into a perimeter game. The Flames stayed disciplined, protected the middle of the ice, and never allowed the Blackhawks to build sustained momentum. Even with Connor Bedard generating movement and looks, there wasn’t enough support to turn pressure into goals.
This wasn’t a game about talent or excitement — it was about execution and structure. Calgary won the special teams battle and played a patient, composed road game. Chicago, meanwhile, continues to search for answers offensively as scoring remains hard to come by.
Next Game
The Blackhawks will look to respond on Saturday night at home when they host the Boston Bruins. Boston comes into Chicago riding a five-game winning streak and has posted a strong 7-2-1 record over its last 10 games.
Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM CDT at the United Center as the Blackhawks try to find offensive answers against one of the league’s hottest teams.
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