Blackhawks Let One Slip in Minnesota, But There Are Signs of Progress
The Chicago Blackhawks are in the middle of a two-game road swing - and this one’s a little extra special. It’s their annual Mother’s Trip, where players get to share the experience with their moms. But while the vibes off the ice are high, the on-ice result in Minnesota left the team with a familiar feeling: close, but not quite.
Chicago dropped a 4-3 decision to the Wild in a shootout, a game that started with promise but ended with frustration. Still, the Blackhawks managed to grab a point, and there were some positives to take away - especially for a team still trying to find consistency. Let’s break it down.
1. Depth Scoring Shows Up - Finally
The Blackhawks came out flying. From the opening faceoff, they looked like the more energetic, more organized team.
Less than two minutes in, Teuvo Teräväinen - back in the lineup after missing six games - lit the lamp to give Chicago the early lead. That goal seemed to set the tone for a dominant stretch.
Ryan Donato, who hadn’t scored in 11 games, broke through to make it 2-0. Then Ilya Mikheyev added a third, giving Chicago a 3-0 cushion midway through the second.
The assists came from all over the lineup: Alex Vlasic, Louis Crevier, Connor Bedard, Jason Dickinson. It wasn’t just the stars carrying the load - it was a full team effort.
That’s a big deal for a team that’s been struggling to put pucks in the net. Outside of this game, the Blackhawks had only scored three goals in a game once over their previous seven. So to see the depth players step up and contribute was a welcome change - and a necessary one.
This kind of balanced attack is something the coaching staff has been pushing for. If Chicago wants to stay competitive down the stretch, they’ll need more of these nights where the bottom six and the blue line chip in offensively.
2. Power Play Still Can’t Find the Finish
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the power play.
It’s been cold. Ice cold. Since January 10, the Blackhawks have gone 0-for-22 with the man advantage, including an 0-for-5 performance in this game - and that includes a golden opportunity in overtime with a four-on-three.
To be fair, the power play didn’t look as lifeless as it has in recent games. Head coach Jeff Blashill acknowledged that the unit generated more chances and looked more cohesive. But at the end of the day, it’s about results - and those still aren’t coming.
“When you have five power plays, and a full two-minute four-on-three in OT, you’ve got to find a way to score,” Blashill said after the game. “That’s the difference between winning and losing.”
He’s not wrong. The Blackhawks had their chances - reportedly six decent looks with the extra man - but couldn’t cash in. In a tight game like this, where momentum swings on a single play, that’s a missed opportunity they simply couldn’t afford.
The structure is improving, and the puck movement is starting to look sharper. But until the puck starts going in, it’s still a problem - and one that continues to cost them points.
3. A 3-0 Lead Slips Away
This one stings.
Up 3-0 midway through the second, the Blackhawks looked in control. They were dictating play, limiting Minnesota’s chances, and getting solid goaltending. But the Wild chipped away - first with a goal from Yakov Trenin before the second intermission, then Joel Eriksson Ek made it 3-2 in the third, and finally, Jared Spurgeon tied it with just two minutes left in regulation during a six-on-five.
The game went to overtime, and then to a shootout, where Kirill Kaprizov sealed the deal for Minnesota.
Let’s be clear: blowing a three-goal lead is never acceptable. But this wasn’t a collapse as much as it was a team still learning how to close. The Blackhawks had chances to put the game away - both at even strength and on the power play - but couldn’t land the knockout punch.
Postgame, the mood was understandably mixed.
“I think we battled hard. We competed,” Donato said.
“We had our chances to finish it… it’s definitely hard to not get emotional about it and say we lost. But at the end of the day, I think we did a lot of good things.”
Blashill echoed that sentiment, pointing out that Chicago out-chanced Minnesota 23-14. “You’re going to win that game 98 percent of the time,” he said. “We just didn’t win it tonight.”
And that’s the story here. The Blackhawks played one of their better games in recent weeks.
They were faster, more connected, and more dangerous offensively. But they let a winnable game slip away - and those missed opportunities loom large when you’re trying to build momentum.
Looking Ahead
It wasn’t the result they wanted, but the Blackhawks left Minnesota with something to build on. They earned a point, showed signs of offensive life, and played with purpose for most of the night. But the inability to close - both on the scoreboard and on the power play - remains a hurdle they haven’t cleared yet.
They’ll need to bounce back quickly, with a trip to Pittsburgh up next. If they can replicate the energy and execution they brought to the first 40 minutes in Minnesota - and finally solve the power play - they’ll give themselves a shot.
This team is still in the process of figuring out who they are. Nights like this, frustrating as they are, offer a glimpse of what they could be. Now the question is: can they turn potential into points?