The Chicago Blackhawks hit the ice one last time Tuesday morning at Fifth Third Arena before heading into the Olympic break, squeezing in a final tune-up before league-mandated downtime that runs through at least February 17. Even with the momentum of a much-needed 6-3 win over San Jose the night before - a game that snapped a five-game skid and marked their first four-goal outing in nearly a month - head coach Jeff Blashill wasn’t ready to stand pat.
Instead, he took the opportunity to shuffle his forward lines, looking for a spark in a roster that’s still searching for consistent chemistry. The most notable change?
Rookie Oliver Moore is getting a promotion. After spending the last couple of games anchoring the fourth line, Moore was bumped up into the top six at practice and is now expected to center the second line on Wednesday night in Columbus.
He’ll be flanked by Teuvo Teravainen and Andre Burakovsky - two veterans who could use a jolt of energy themselves.
With Frank Nazar holding down a spot on the top line next to Connor Bedard, the “2C” role is wide open, and Moore has a real shot to make it his. But it’s not just about filling a hole - it’s about fixing one. That second line has gone ice cold at even strength, and Moore’s job will be to breathe some life into it.
Burakovsky’s recent stretch has been particularly rough. He’s managed just one assist in his last 12 games and has only four even-strength points since mid-December.
Teravainen, somehow, has had an even tougher go. Since December began, he’s played in 24 games and recorded only two even-strength points - both goals.
His last assist at 5-on-5? That came all the way back on November 20, a full 29 games ago.
That’s the challenge Moore now faces: not just holding his own, but elevating two veterans who’ve struggled to produce. It’s a tall task for any young player, let alone one still finding his own footing in the NHL.
Just ask Ryan Greene. The rookie had previously been slotted into that second-line center role but couldn’t get anything going, through no fault of his own.
Now, he’s back on the fourth line - not necessarily as a demotion, but as part of Blashill’s ongoing effort to find a mix that clicks.
One line that clearly did click on Monday? The third unit of Ryan Donato, Jason Dickinson, and Ilya Mikheyev.
That trio exploded for 10 combined points against San Jose and gave the Blackhawks a much-needed offensive lift. Unsurprisingly, Blashill left that line untouched in Tuesday’s practice.
As for the fourth line, it looks like it’ll be getting a veteran boost in Columbus. Captain Nick Foligno, who’s missed the last two games with an undisclosed injury, is expected to return to the lineup against his former team.
Foligno spent nearly a decade with the Blue Jackets, logging 599 games and serving as captain for six seasons before being traded to Toronto. This return to Nationwide Arena is more than just another game on the calendar for him.
“It’s always special,” Foligno said after practice. “It will be nice to go back.
I consider that place home. I kind of grew up there.
Ten years of becoming the player that I am today. I have so many great memories… anytime I get a chance to play back there, it’s a special feeling.”
Foligno skated as an extra during line rushes but is expected to slot in on the fourth line, likely replacing rookie Colton Dach. If that holds, it’ll mark the fifth time in two weeks that Dach has been a healthy scratch - a tough stretch for a young player trying to gain traction. But with the trade deadline approaching and forward movement expected (perhaps involving Dickinson), Blashill’s options remain limited in the short term.
So the Blackhawks head into their final game before the break with a few fresh looks, a returning leader, and a chance to build on a rare offensive outburst. Whether these tweaks can carry over into the second half of the season remains to be seen, but for now, Moore’s promotion and Foligno’s return give this team some intriguing storylines heading into Columbus.