The Chicago Blackhawks celebrated a morale-boosting 6-2 victory last night, bringing their record to 8-12-2 (18 points) just before Thanksgiving. This marked their highest scoring game of the current season. Today, as we observe Thanksgiving, it’s worth appreciating Taylor Hall’s hat trick, Connor Bedard ending his 12-game goal drought, and defenseman Louis Crevier netting his first NHL goal. The win also lifted the Blackhawks out of the last place in the standings, where they now rank 31st, with the Nashville Predators in the last position after playing one extra game.
Thanksgiving typically indicates teams in playoff spots are likely to remain there as the season progresses toward April. While the playoffs are not a feasible goal for the Blackhawks this year, perhaps this victory can serve as a foundation for future wins. Hall expressed his belief that the team was due for a performance like this, noting their improvement despite lacking prior results. With this perspective, let’s examine five reasons for the Blackhawks and their fans to be grateful this Thanksgiving.
5. Effective Penalty Kill
The Blackhawks stand at 14th in the league for penalty killing, allowing only 14 goals against while facing 65 shorthanded situations for a success rate of 78.5%. Alex Vlasic leads the team in shorthanded ice time, followed by Nick Foligno and others. It’s worth noting that the Blackhawks have had only 65 penalties, which is a more favorable stat compared to teams like the Boston Bruins, highlighting their better discipline this season.
4. Improved Power Play
The team’s power play has significantly improved, ranking 11th overall. The Blackhawks have successfully converted 12 out of 55 opportunities, translating to a 21.8% success rate. Teuvo Teravainen leads the team with four power play goals, followed by Tyler Bertuzzi and others. With dynamic strategies in place, both power play units focus on quick puck movement and aggression, indicating a positive trend moving forward.
3. Strong Goaltending
The goaltending has been a strong suit for the Blackhawks this season. Petr Mrazek has excelled in both performance and leadership as a key veteran, while both he and Soderblom have provided stability in the net, which the struggling team appreciates.
2. Promising Prospect Pool
General Manager Kyle Davidson has effectively built a solid prospect pool during the rebuilding phase. Nolan Allan has emerged as a consistent player, and Frank Nazar is making waves with the Rockford IceHogs, attracting attention for a potential call-up. Other promising prospects are also making strides, enhancing the overall outlook for the organization as they work through their development.
1. Connor Bedard
Connor Bedard, despite facing a bit of a sophomore slump with only four goals and 16 points this season, remains a focal point for the Blackhawks after being the first overall pick in the 2023 Entry Draft and winning the Calder Trophy last season. His remarkable skill set and high hockey IQ generate excitement every time he’s on the ice. Fans eagerly await his breakthrough, and while he may currently feel stagnant, they should appreciate having such a generational talent on their team.
In summary, the future appears promising for the Chicago Blackhawks. If everyone could exercise a bit of patience, good outcomes are on the horizon. What are you thankful for about your favorite team this Thanksgiving?
