The Chicago Blackhawks came out of the gate strong Thursday night at the United Center, but early momentum wasn’t enough to hold off the Calgary Flames, who skated away with a 3-1 win. It was a game that started with promise for Chicago and ended with a reminder of how costly missed opportunities-especially on the power play-can be at this level.
Fast Start, Then a Power Outage
The Blackhawks struck first just 2:38 into the game when veteran captain Nick Foligno ripped a wrist shot top shelf to beat Calgary netminder Devin Cooley. It was Foligno’s second goal of the season, and the play was set up nicely by youngsters Colton Dach and Landon Slaggert, both of whom continue to carve out their roles in Chicago’s lineup.
But that early 1-0 lead didn’t last long.
Calgary responded with a power-play goal of their own, as Yegor Sharangovich notched his ninth of the season, slipping one past Spencer Knight with help from Mikael Backlund and Connor Zary. That goal evened the score at 1-1 and shifted the momentum in a big way.
Then came the turning point: a shorthanded dagger.
With Chicago on the power play and a chance to regain control, Backlund picked off a puck and went coast-to-coast for an unassisted shorthanded goal at the 6:05 mark of the first period. It was a veteran play-smart, composed, and clinical-and it gave the Flames a 2-1 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Special Teams Swing the Game
Chicago’s power play, which has been a relative strength this season (clicking at 22%, good for 12th in the league), went 0-for-4 on the night. Not only did they fail to convert with the man advantage, but they gave up the game-winning goal while on it. That’s the kind of swing that can undo an otherwise solid effort.
To be clear, this isn’t a reason to sound the alarm on the Blackhawks' special teams. One off night doesn’t erase the progress they’ve made. But it does underscore how fragile the margin for error can be, especially for a team still building its identity.
Knight Stands Tall-Again
Despite the loss, Spencer Knight continues to show why he’s such a critical piece of the puzzle for Chicago. The 24-year-old was sharp in net, making several key stops and keeping the Blackhawks within striking distance all night.
He’s playing behind a young and still-developing defensive corps, but his composure and consistency have been a stabilizing force. Even on nights when the scoreboard doesn’t go his way, Knight’s performance is giving this team a chance-and that’s all you can ask of your goaltender.
Closing the Door
Calgary sealed the win late in the third when Matt Coronato-who Chicago fans might remember from his days with the Chicago Steel-scored an empty-netter for his 13th of the season. Sharangovich picked up the assist, capping off a two-point night for both him and Backlund.
For the Blackhawks, this one will sting-not because they were outclassed, but because they let a winnable game slip through their fingers. The effort was there early, but the execution, particularly on special teams, just didn’t follow.
Still, there are positives to build on. Foligno’s leadership continues to shine, the young forwards are getting involved, and Knight remains a rock in net. If the Blackhawks can tighten up their power play execution and clean up the mistakes, they’ll be in a much better position to turn nights like this into wins.