The Chicago Blackhawks embarked on a five-game road trip in search of improvement after struggling at home with a 1-3-0 record. This trip could either lead the season further off course or help stabilize it.
The Blackhawks ended the road trip with a 3-2-0 record, which is quite respectable considering they began with a disappointing 4-2 loss to the Dallas Stars on October 26.
Currently, the Blackhawks hold a 5-7-1 record and are just two points shy of a playoff position, bolstered by consecutive victories over the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks. Let’s take a closer look at some highlights from their recent performance.
Ryan Donato has been a standout player with seven even-strength goals. He’s on a hot streak, having collected five goals and two assists in his last five games. His offensive contributions are crucial for the team, and Coach Luke Richardson has promoted him to the top line, which could also help boost Connor Bedard’s scoring.
A notable moment was Donato’s shootout goal that clinched a 3-2 victory against the Kings.
The Blackhawks’ recent games against the Kings and Ducks share several similarities: both resulted in wins, took place in California, and saw Teuvo Teravainen logging the least ice time of his season. He played just 12:18 against Los Angeles, which included limited ice time during overtime.
After starting the season strong with five points in the first three games, Teravainen has only managed one point in the last eight games. However, he did score a power-play goal against Anaheim, which might help revitalize his offensive game.
Laurent Brossoit didn’t practice on Tuesday but is getting closer to a return. Arvid Soderblom had his best outing of the season against Anaheim, while Petr Mrazek has been a reliable presence in goal, keeping the team competitive in challenging matches. Overall, goaltending is improving for the Blackhawks, with expectations for Brossoit to rejoin the squad soon.
On the downside, Andreas Athanasiou and Joey Anderson have yet to make an impact as they’ve been sidelined for an extended period. Athanasiou last played on October 22, and Anderson hasn’t played since October 17. It now seems likely that Frank Nazar could have a chance to join the second line before Athanasiou does, especially since he didn’t secure a spot on the roster out of training camp.
