The Chicago Blackhawks just wrapped up a tough back-to-back stretch against two of the East’s elite - the Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning - and came away with three out of four possible points. That’s no small feat, especially when you factor in the travel and the quick turnaround. These are the kinds of games that test a team’s resilience, and Chicago showed they’ve got some fight in them.
Let’s start with the good - and there’s more than you might expect from a team still trying to find its footing in the Wild Card race.
Elite Penalty Kill Keeps Chicago in the Fight
Chicago’s penalty kill has quietly become one of the best stories of their season, and this two-game stretch only reinforced that. The Hawks went a perfect 8-for-8 on the kill against two power-play units loaded with talent, and that bumped their PK percentage up to a league-best 85.4% heading into the weekend.
That’s not just good - that’s game-changing. Special teams can swing momentum in a heartbeat, and right now, the Blackhawks are winning that battle more often than not. If their penalty kill wasn’t this sharp, they wouldn’t be hanging around in the playoff conversation.
A big reason for their success? Veteran leadership and buy-in from the kids.
Ilya Mikheyev has been a standout - arguably one of the best penalty killers in the league - while Jason Dickinson brings a steady, veteran presence. But what’s really encouraging is how the younger players have stepped up.
Ryan Greene, Frank Nazar, and Oliver Moore are all logging key minutes and making smart, aggressive reads on the kill.
“We’ve been doing the same PK all year,” Greene said. “Over time, we’ve gotten more comfortable in it.
It involves a lot of heavy pressure; we like to put teams on their heels and not give them too much time to make plays. I think we’re doing a pretty good job.”
That pressure-based system is working, and when you combine it with strong goaltending, it’s a formula that can steal points - exactly what happened in this back-to-back.
Goaltending Comes Up Huge
Speaking of goaltending, both Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom delivered when it mattered most. Knight turned aside 28 of 31 shots in Thursday’s shootout win over Carolina, while Soderblom followed that up with a 30-save performance against Tampa Bay. That game went to a shootout as well, and while the Blackhawks didn’t come away with the win, they got the point - and they have Soderblom to thank for that.
“We owe a lot of credit to [Soderblom],” Greene said. “I thought he was unbelievable. I don't think that game goes to overtime without him playing the way he did.”
It’s been a tough year for Soderblom in a backup role behind Knight, but this was the kind of performance that can spark a turnaround. He stood tall against a Lightning team that throws wave after wave of elite shooters at you. For a young goalie, that’s a serious confidence boost.
Moore and Lardis Showing Offensive Spark
Offense has been harder to come by for this group, especially with Connor Bedard still working his way back to pre-injury form. But there’s been a glimmer of hope thanks to the duo of Oliver Moore and Nick Lardis.
Against Carolina, Lardis scored one of Chicago’s three regulation goals - assisted by Moore - and then Moore stepped up with the shootout winner. The next night, both players picked up assists on Ryan Greene’s lone goal against Tampa Bay.
That’s the kind of secondary scoring the Blackhawks are going to need moving forward. Bedard can’t carry the entire offensive load, and even Nazar, as skilled as he is, needs support.
Moore and Lardis are proving they can be part of that solution. These aren’t just flashes - they’re signs of a foundation being built.
Where the Blackhawks Still Need to Improve
Now, let’s not sugarcoat it - there are still some glaring issues at even strength. The penalty kill and goaltending bailed them out this time, but that’s not a sustainable formula over an 82-game season.
Against Carolina, Chicago was outshot 25-18 at even strength and outscored 3-2 in those minutes. Against Tampa Bay, the disparity was even more pronounced - they were outshot 27-16 at even strength, and 11 of those 16 shots came in overtime or the shootout.
That means Chicago managed just five even-strength shots through two periods. That’s not going to cut it, especially against top-tier teams.
If they want to make a serious push, they need to generate more consistent offense at 5-on-5. The penalty kill can only do so much, and you can’t expect your goalie to put on a cape every night.
Next Up: Florida Brings Another Test
The Blackhawks’ gauntlet against the Eastern Conference continues Sunday when they host the Florida Panthers. Don’t let Florida’s 26-20-3 record fool you - this is still a dangerous team.
They’ve been without their captain, Sasha Barkov, for much of the season, and Matthew Tkachuk just made his return last week. That forward group is still capable of applying relentless pressure, and their forecheck can wear down even the most disciplined defensive units.
And when you do manage to break through? You’ve got Sergei Bobrovsky waiting in net. He’s still one of the toughest goalies to beat when he’s locked in.
If Chicago wants to keep stacking points, they’ll need to bring a more complete effort at even strength. The PK and goaltending have been stellar, but against a team like Florida, that won’t be enough on its own.
This stretch has shown the Blackhawks can hang with the league’s best - now it’s about building off that and finding a more balanced, sustainable game. The pieces are starting to come together. Now it’s time to see if they can take the next step.