The early returns in Chicago have been rough, but the Blackhawks may be finding a little traction in the middle of the ice.
At 3-6-0, they’re still digging out of a slow start. Through their first six games, Chicago had only 12 goals and had given up 26, a stretch that made them look vulnerable at both ends.
But the last three outings have pointed in a better direction. Since captain Connor Bedard came back, the Blackhawks have won two of three, scored nine goals and allowed ten.
Their lone loss in that span came in a shutout at the hands of the Dallas Stars, and that one is hard to pin entirely on Chicago. Dallas has been rolling defensively, leading the NHL by a wide margin with a 1.56 goals-against average. Against that kind of opponent, offense can disappear in a hurry.
What stands out most about the recent uptick is how the scoring has been distributed. Chicago has spread Bedard, Anton Frondell and Frank Nazar across three lines, and each center has brought a legitimate threat down the middle. So far, that setup has shown real promise.
Over the past three games, Bedard has three points and Frondell has added two assists. Nazar, back after serving a two-game suspension, produced a goal and an assist, giving him goals in three of his last four games and a point-per-game pace over that stretch.
That matters now because the Blackhawks are about to run into a schedule that looks a lot friendlier for their offense. After a five-day break - they haven’t played since Saturday - Chicago returns Friday against the Montreal Canadiens.
Montreal reached the Eastern Conference Final last season, but this year’s storyline has centered on the crease. Starter Jakub Dobeš has a 4.47 goals-against average and a .847 save percentage in five appearances, and the Canadiens are allowing 3.78 goals per game, which ranks in the bottom five in the NHL.
Sunday brings another opportunity. The opponent is the Florida Panthers, who have also been leaking goals. Jacob Markstrom has again been dealing with injuries and was recently placed on injured reserve, and Florida has surrendered 22 goals over its last six games for a 3.67 goals-against average.
The next stop is just as inviting on paper. The Los Angeles Kings, once known as an elite defensive team, have slipped since parting ways with head coach Jim Hiller. They’re giving up 3.86 goals per game, the fourth-worst mark in the league, and Darcy Kuemper has opened the season with a 3.94 goals-against average and a .869 save percentage in five games.
Chicago then goes back on the road to meet the Detroit Red Wings next Thursday, a team that has allowed three or more goals in six of its nine games this season.
If the Blackhawks’ centers keep producing and the schedule keeps lining up like this, they have a real chance to stack wins and build confidence before the road turns steep again. After Detroit, Chicago faces a much tougher stretch against the red-hot Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes and Buffalo Sabres.
In Other News...
One Blackhawks Legend Proved Even A Bitter Return Can Change
Brady Tkachuks return to Ottawa in a Panthers sweater was the kind of reunion that instantly turned sour, with boos and chants greeting him from the stands. For Blackhawks fans, the scene probably carried a familiar edge. Chicago once had its own bitter homecoming involving Chris Chelios, who came back to the United Center as a Red Wings player in 1999 and found out quickly how unforgiving a crowd can be when a former favorite is wearing the wrong sweater.
Chelios story is a reminder that a hostile return does not always define the whole relationship. What starts as a raw, emotional moment can soften over time, even after a player has crossed to a rival and taken the reception head-on. For the Blackhawks, his path from villain to honored alum is part of why these returns matter so much, and why a single night can say less about the end of a bond than the beginning of a new chapter. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Get Encouraging Bowen Byram Update At Crucial Time
The Blackhawks got a small but timely boost on the injury front with Bowen Byram making progress in his recovery as the team continues to manage a stretch where every healthy defenseman matters. Byram has been dealing with an upper-body injury, and while he is still being watched closely, Chicago at least has reason to feel better about where things are headed.
There is still no clear timeline, which keeps the situation from fully settling down for a team that can ill afford many more setbacks on the blue line. Bowen remains day-to-day, and with the schedule moving quickly, Chicago will be monitoring his status closely as it tries to piece together its defense in the near term. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Fans Are Seeing A Different Artyom Levshunov Early
Artyom Levshunovs first full glimpse in a Blackhawks sweater came with plenty of expectation, and not a small amount of patience. The No. 2 pick in 2024 arrived in Chicago after signing his entry-level deal and spending time in the AHL, then ran into a rough stretch last season when the NHL learning curve, along with a wrist injury, made his progress harder to see. Early this year, though, the difference has been easier to spot. His skating looks sharper, his puck handling looks cleaner and the overall game has started to look more like the one the Blackhawks envisioned when they drafted him.
For Chicago, the encouraging part is not just the results, but the way Levshunov is carrying himself through them. He has said he is enjoying hockey again, and that matters for a young defenseman trying to turn raw talent into reliable NHL impact. The Blackhawks are still waiting to learn how quickly that growth can translate over a full season, but the early signs suggest a player who is settling in rather than searching for his footing. [Read more 🡒]