The Chicago Blackhawks are showing signs of real progress in the early stretch of the 2025-26 NHL season. Sitting at 11-9-5 with 27 points through 25 games, they’re not just hanging around-they’re evolving.
The most telling sign? Their ability to flip the switch in the third period.
Through two months of hockey, the Blackhawks have scored 80 goals-good for 12th in the league-but what jumps off the page is how many of those tallies are coming in crunch time. They’ve netted 25 goals in the third period during the month of November alone.
That’s more than 31% of their total offense in just one frame of the game, and it leads the NHL. Even more impressive, they’re a plus-10 in that frame, allowing only 15 goals against.
This isn’t just a fun stat. It’s a signal.
The Blackhawks are becoming a team that doesn’t fold when the pressure ramps up. That kind of resilience doesn’t guarantee a playoff berth come April, but it does guarantee competitive hockey, potential upsets, and a team that’s going to make things interesting down the stretch.
Third-Period Surge Fueled by Key Contributors
A big reason for this late-game success? The emergence of some key playmakers who are stepping up when it matters most.
Let’s start with Andre Burakovsky. The veteran winger has been a steady presence since joining Chicago, and he’s proving to be more than just a depth piece.
With 17 points and seven goals heading into Tuesday, he’s third on the team in scoring. But here’s where it gets interesting-four of those seven goals have come in the third period.
That’s the kind of clutch production you want from a guy with playoff pedigree. It’s not hard to imagine the Seattle Kraken watching his success and wondering what might’ve been.
Then there’s Tyler Bertuzzi, who’s found his scoring touch in a big way. He’s already got 13 goals, and nearly half-six of them-have come in the third period.
That includes a statement hat trick against the Vancouver Canucks on November 5. After a somewhat inconsistent first season in Chicago, Bertuzzi looks like a completely different player now that the team’s chemistry is starting to click.
With 21 points in 22 games, he’s become one of the Hawks’ most reliable offensive weapons.
And of course, Connor Bedard continues to do Connor Bedard things. The third-year phenom capped off a strong November with two third-period goals in a win over the Anaheim Ducks, once again proving he’s the engine this team is built around.
Bedard has five goals in the third period this season, and it’s safe to say that number will keep climbing. When the game tightens up, he’s the guy Chicago wants on the puck-and he’s delivering.
Still Work to Do, But the Trajectory Is Clear
Now, it’s not all perfect. The Blackhawks are still struggling to start games with the same intensity they finish them.
In fact, they scored just eight goals in the first period during November-tied for second-fewest in the league with Boston and only ahead of Detroit. That slow start puts them in a hole more often than they’d like, but the difference this year is they’re not staying buried.
In past seasons, early deficits usually led to lopsided losses. This year?
The Hawks are scrapping their way back into games. That’s a reflection of growing confidence, improved depth, and a young core that’s starting to believe in itself.
It’s also a sign that head coach Luke Richardson’s message is getting through.
If this team can find a way to bring that third-period energy into the opening 20 minutes, they’ll be a tough out for anyone. But even if the early-game consistency takes time, their ability to finish strong means they’re never out of a game-and that makes them dangerous.
The Blackhawks might not be a finished product yet, but they’re trending in the right direction. And if their third-period dominance continues, they’ll be right in the playoff conversation longer than most expected.