Blackhawks Snap Skid, Gear Up for Final Game Before Olympic Break
After five straight losses, the Blackhawks finally found some rhythm-and the back of the net-last night with a 6-3 win over the San Jose Sharks. Now it’s back to work as they prep for one last showdown before the Olympic break: a road tilt against a surging Columbus Blue Jackets squad on Wednesday.
Veteran Presence Steps Up
All eyes may have been on the Connor Bedard-Macklin Celebrini storyline, but it was Chicago’s veteran depth that flipped the script. The scoring didn’t just come from the top line-it came from the guys who’ve been around the block, and that made all the difference. In a game where the spotlight was expected to shine on the future, it was the experience in the room that carried the night.
That kind of performance is exactly what the Blackhawks need if they’re going to build any momentum heading into the second half of the season. With Bedard still sidelined, the vets showing they can carry the load is a promising sign.
Rinzel Returns to Rockford
Defenseman Sam Rinzel will head back to the Rockford IceHogs during the Olympic break. He’s the only player being sent down during this stretch, per reports. It’s a move that makes sense-keeping him sharp and getting him top minutes in Rockford while the NHL hits pause.
Trade Deadline Looms
Once the Olympic break wraps, the trade deadline won’t be far behind. And the Blackhawks?
They’re in a unique spot. There’s chatter that they could be both buyers and sellers, which sounds contradictory but actually fits where they are in the rebuild.
They’ve got pieces that could be attractive to contenders, but they also have the cap space and flexibility to take on contracts or even add young talent. It’s going to be an interesting few weeks for GM Kyle Davidson and his staff.
A Historic Day in Blackhawks Lore
February 3rd has had its share of Blackhawks milestones. Back in 1982, Grant Mulvey lit up the St.
Louis Blues with a five-goal, seven-point night-still one of the most dominant single-game performances in franchise history. That game also marked Bob Pulford’s return to the bench for his second stint as head coach, after relieving Keith Magnuson.
Fast forward to 2000, and Pulford made history again-this time becoming the first person in NHL history to coach 800 games after playing in 800. That milestone came during his fourth stint as Chicago’s head coach and ended in a 5-5 draw with the Calgary Flames. Safe to say, Pulford’s fingerprints are all over this franchise.
Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call - Feb. 3:
Happy birthday to Tony Horacek, Keith Carney, Jim Campbell, and Steve McCarthy.
Around the NHL: Trotz Steps Down, Stamkos Stuns, and Hughes Hits a Milestone
Barry Trotz to Step Aside
In a major development out of Nashville, Predators GM Barry Trotz announced he’ll be stepping down once the team finds his replacement. He’ll stay on as an advisor, but after four decades in pro hockey, Trotz is making it clear-it’s time to put family first.
“I just felt there’s an end date,” Trotz said. “You see your kids grow up... now they’re getting married, I’ve got grandkids now.
You’re missing a lot of the dates.” A candid and heartfelt reflection from one of the most respected figures in the game.
Preds Rally Behind Their GM
The Predators responded to the news with a dramatic comeback win over the Blues. Down 5-1, they stormed back to win 6-5, led by Steven Stamkos, who netted both the game-tying and game-winning goals. Stamkos’ resurgence has been nothing short of remarkable-after a slow start, he’s now scored 23 goals in his last 33 games.
Panthers Hit a Wall
The Florida Panthers dropped a 5-3 decision to the Buffalo Sabres, and the injury list just keeps growing. Sam Bennett exited with an upper-body injury, joining Aleksander Barkov and Anton Lundell on the shelf. With less than 30 games to go and a nine-point gap to close, time’s running out for the two-time defending champs to make a push.
Quinn Hughes Joins Elite Company
Vancouver’s Quinn Hughes continues to cement his place among the NHL’s elite blueliners. He tallied his 400th career assist on the overtime goal that lifted the Canucks over the Canadiens.
That makes him the fastest defenseman in franchise history to hit that mark-and only Bobby Orr and Paul Coffey got there quicker in league history. That’s not just good company.
That’s legendary company.
Hughes also became the first player in franchise history to post five three-assist games in a single season. His vision, skating, and poise with the puck are turning heads-and rewriting the record books.
NHL Birthday Roll Call - Feb. 3:
Celebrating today: Lynn Patrick, Tiger Williams, Mark Kirton, Frantisek Kucera, Mathieu Dandenault, Marek Zidlicky, Paul Gaustad, Andrei Kostitsyn, Jonathan Merrill, Sam Steel, Michael McLeod, Jack Drury, and Owen Beck.
With the Olympic break just days away, teams are making final pushes, players are hitting milestones, and front offices are quietly (or not-so-quietly) preparing for the frenzy of the trade deadline. The Blackhawks may not be in the playoff hunt this year, but their path forward is starting to take shape-and if last night’s win was any indication, there’s still plenty of fight left in this group.