The Chicago Blackhawks finally got the kind of night they’d been chasing all month.
After a four-day layoff, Chicago came back Thursday at the United Center and edged the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 in overtime, ending a six-game skid and picking up its first win in November. The Blackhawks improved to 5-13-1, while Buffalo fell to 8-8-3.
Frank Nazar drove the comeback. He scored twice in regulation, including the equalizer in the third period, and was Chicago’s top all-around threat with five shots on goal, five individual scoring chances and four individual high-danger chances in 18:48 of ice time. Ryan Donato finished it off in overtime, burying the winner for his third goal of the season and snapping a 10-game drought.
Donato’s goal came at 3:12 of overtime. Anton Frondell set him up with a drop pass, Donato glided into the slot and beat Sabres goalie Alex Lyon.
Sam Rinzel kept adding to his growing offensive run, picking up two assists, including the secondary helper on the overtime winner. He now has five assists over his last six games.
Rookie Roman Kantserov also stayed hot, collecting an assist to extend his point streak to nine games. That puts him in some rare Blackhawks company, as just the fourth rookie in team history to post a nine-game point streak, joining Steve Larmer, Jonathan Toews and Jeremy Roenick.
Spencer Knight got the start for Chicago and earned his fifth win of the season, stopping 21 of 23 shots. It was the fewest shots he has faced in a full game this year.
Buffalo struck first and built a 2-1 lead through the opening period. Owen Power opened the scoring at 9:00, and Tage Thompson added a power-play goal at 15:45. Chicago answered in between those goals when Nazar finished off a power-play chance at 12:22 for his sixth goal of the season, with Connor Bedard earning the primary assist and Kantserov the secondary one.
The second period stayed quiet, though Nazar nearly tied it earlier when he raced in on a partial breakaway and tested Lyon with a quick shot. The Sabres carried their 2-1 lead into the third.
Chicago’s push finally broke through at 8:22 of the final frame. Rinzel’s shot from the point was redirected by Nazar for his second goal of the night and seventh of the season, pulling the Blackhawks even and setting the stage for overtime.
That finish capped a strong closing stretch for Chicago. After managing only 14 shots in the first 40 minutes, the Blackhawks outshot Buffalo 11-5 the rest of the way. The Sabres were limited to just five shots on goal in the third period and overtime combined.
The win was also a notable first for Chicago this season: the Blackhawks had been 0-10-0 when trailing after two periods before Thursday night. This time, they turned the game around and found a way to close it out.
Chicago returns to action Saturday afternoon against the Winnipeg Jets.
In Other News...
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The fit is easy to understand from the Blackhawks side. They have the assets and cap flexibility to at least be part of the discussion, and a player like Michkov would fit the timeline of a franchise trying to accelerate its climb back into relevance. For now, though, the situation is driven more by rumor than certainty, with no official confirmation of any internal issues in Philadelphia and no clear indication of where this goes next. [Read more 🡒]
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Patrick Kanes return from injury added another layer to the night, giving the Blackhawks a familiar presence back in the lineup as they continue to search for more consistency. But the bigger takeaway was the energy coming from the younger group, which had been under pressure to start turning promise into production and finally delivered a night that should matter for more than just one win. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Have A Connor Bedard Problem He Can't Solve Alone
Connor Bedard keeps moving the Blackhawks in the right direction, but the larger picture around him still looks unfinished. Chicagos problems are not being created by one player, and they are not going to be solved by one player either. The young center gives the franchise a true foundation, yet the roster around him still needs more help if the team is going to turn individual progress into something more meaningful.
The challenge now is building the right support without overreaching. The Blackhawks need additional pieces who can complement Bedard, but finding ideal trade targets is never simple, especially for a team still trying to sort out its long-term construction. Whether the answer comes through prospect development or a well-timed deal, Chicagos next step is bigger than just waiting for Bedard to carry the load. [Read more 🡒]