After five straight losses and a desperate need to build momentum heading into the Olympic break, the Chicago Blackhawks found exactly what they were looking for Monday night at the United Center. Facing a San Jose Sharks team also struggling to find consistency, the Blackhawks turned in one of their most complete offensive performances of the season, snapping their skid with a convincing 6-3 win.
A Hot Start and a Power Play That Clicked
The only lineup tweak heading into the night was Colton Dach stepping in for Sam Lafferty, who saw limited action in Friday’s loss to Columbus. But the bigger story was how the Blackhawks came out of the gate with energy and purpose-especially on the power play.
Chicago earned three power plays in the opening period and capitalized on the second one with a beautifully executed sequence. The puck zipped around the zone with purpose, and it was Tyler Bertuzzi who threaded a pass to Teuvo Teravainen in the slot.
Teravainen wasted no time finding Connor Bedard on the wing, who hammered home a one-timer to give the Blackhawks the early 1-0 lead. That goal marked Bedard’s third straight game with a tally-he’s heating up at just the right time.
Second Period Surge
If the first period was about precision, the second was all about pressure-and the Blackhawks poured it on.
Just over two minutes into the middle frame, Connor Murphy stepped into a shot from the right circle that found its way through traffic and under the pad of Yaroslav Askarov. It was the kind of goal that doesn’t make the highlight reel but shifts momentum-and it put Chicago up 2-0.
Seven minutes later, Ryan Donato added to the lead with a slick finish after a sharp pass set him up in space. Donato’s patience and hands did the rest, and suddenly it was 3-0 Blackhawks.
Then came a feel-good moment for rookie defenseman Sam Rinzel. In just his second game back after being recalled, Rinzel found the soft spot in the middle of the ice and buried a one-timer to make it 4-0. That kind of confidence and poise from a young blueliner is exactly what the Blackhawks are hoping to see more of as the season progresses.
San Jose finally got on the board when Macklin Celebrini’s centering attempt deflected off Alex Vlasic’s skate and landed perfectly for Will Smith, who buried it to make it 4-1. But Chicago wasted no time answering back-just 36 seconds later, Ilya Mikheyev tipped home a shot from the side of the net to restore the four-goal cushion.
The Sharks would sneak in one more before the horn, with Celebrini going top shelf over Spencer Knight’s blocker to make it 5-2 heading into the third. It was a chaotic, back-and-forth period, but Chicago came out on top by staying opportunistic and finishing chances.
Donato Delivers Again in the Third
The final frame was far more subdued, but the Sharks did manage to make things a little interesting early on. Shakir Mukhamadullin’s backhand goal trimmed the deficit to 5-3 and gave San Jose a bit of life.
But just when the momentum seemed to be shifting, Donato struck again. After a costly turnover by Celebrini deep in his own zone, Donato pounced on a rebound and buried his second of the night to make it 6-3. That goal sealed the deal and capped off a standout night for the veteran forward.
Key Takeaways
This was the bounce-back effort the Blackhawks needed-not just in terms of the result, but in how they got it done. The line of Mikheyev, Donato, and Jason Dickinson was electric all night, combining for 10 points and driving play in all three zones. They were relentless on the forecheck, smart with the puck, and opportunistic when it mattered most.
What’s even more impressive is that Chicago pulled off this win despite losing the battle in shots, faceoff percentage, and hits. This was a game where the scoreboard told a different story than the stat sheet-and that’s a credit to the Blackhawks’ ability to capitalize on their chances and limit mistakes in key moments.
Now, with just one game left before the Olympic break-a rematch with Columbus on Wednesday-the Blackhawks have a chance to head into the pause with a little momentum and a reminder of what this team is capable of when it’s clicking.