Blackhawks Shut Out by Blue Jackets, Lose Wyatt Kaiser to Injury in Final Game Before Olympic Break
The Chicago Blackhawks couldn’t find the back of the net and couldn’t catch a break in their final game before the Olympic pause, falling 4-0 to the Columbus Blue Jackets. But the loss on the scoreboard wasn’t the only blow - defenseman Wyatt Kaiser went down with a leg injury that looked as painful as it did concerning.
Kaiser’s Injury Casts a Shadow
This one stung - and not just in the standings. Early in the game, Kaiser took an awkward fall near his own crease.
As he went down, Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski inadvertently came crashing down on Kaiser’s leg, with his full weight and stick landing right on it. Kaiser needed help getting off the ice and didn’t return.
It’s a brutal turn for one of Chicago’s most promising young blueliners. After a delayed start to the season due to a contract dispute, Kaiser signed a two-year deal and quickly made up for lost time.
At just 23, he’s stepped into a leadership role on the back end, often paired with fellow rookie Artyom Levshunov, helping ease the top prospect’s transition to the NHL. More recently, Kaiser had been skating alongside Sam Rinzel, another young defenseman getting his first real taste of NHL action.
Kaiser’s value to this rebuilding Blackhawks squad goes well beyond the stat sheet. His poise, maturity, and ability to mentor younger teammates have made him a cornerstone of the team’s future - and a stabilizing force in the present.
If this injury keeps him out for any length of time, it’s another major hurdle for a team that’s already had more than its share of them. First it was Connor Bedard.
Then Frank Nazar. Now Kaiser.
And to make matters worse, Colton Dach was also ruled out early in this one after suffering an injury in the second period.
The Olympic break couldn’t come at a better time.
Fatigue Setting In for Chicago’s Youth Movement
This matchup against Columbus marked the Blackhawks’ final game before a 22-day break for the Winter Olympics, and frankly, it looked like a team running on fumes. Chicago has leaned heavily on its young core all season - players like Oliver Moore, Artyom Levshunov, Ryan Greene, and others - and the grind of an NHL schedule is starting to show.
Levshunov and Greene were both scratched recently, and while Greene’s absence raised some eyebrows, Levshunov’s removal was more understandable. Both have shown flashes of brilliance this season, but they’ve also hit the wall - a common speed bump for players making the jump from college or junior hockey to the NHL. Moore hasn’t been benched, but his play has dipped from the high-energy, high-impact level that earned him a full-time role out of camp.
And it’s no wonder. Over the last 40 days, the Blackhawks have played 21 games - a pace that’s grueling even for seasoned pros.
For players fresh out of the AHL or NCAA, where the schedule is far lighter, that kind of workload is a shock to the system. The Olympic break offers a much-needed reset - physically and mentally - before the final 25 games of the season.
A Sloppy Night All Around
The Blackhawks actually started the game with some jump, testing Blue Jackets netminder Jet Greaves early. But that momentum evaporated quickly, and from there, it was all Columbus.
The first goal was a tough-luck bounce. Werenski, who’s been an offensive force from the blue line this season, let one fly that deflected off Wyatt Kaiser, then Alex Vlasic, and found its way past Spencer Knight. It was the kind of goal that makes you shake your head - a pinball bounce that no one could’ve predicted.
But the next two goals? Those were preventable.
After a questionable non-call on a hit into the boards, Ryan Donato responded with a big hit of his own - but then peeled off for a line change, leaving the Blackhawks down a man in the defensive zone. Columbus capitalized on the 5-on-4 opportunity.
It was the kind of mental lapse that’s plagued Chicago all season: poor line changes, missed assignments, and breakdowns in transition.
The third goal was more of the same. A failed zone exit - a recurring issue this year - led to another Columbus tally.
And the fourth? An empty-netter after Tyler Bertuzzi was stripped at the blue line while the Blackhawks were trying to mount a late push.
Chicago’s power play didn’t offer much relief either, going 0-for-2 on the night. They had a few decent looks, but nothing that seriously tested Greaves.
When they win the faceoff, they can usually get set up and generate some movement. But when they lose it, it’s a struggle to regain possession and re-enter the zone - a problem that’s been consistent throughout the season.
Time to Regroup
The Blackhawks outshot the Blue Jackets, but you wouldn’t know it from the flow of the game. The effort just wasn’t there consistently, and the execution was off from start to finish. Whether it was fatigue, frustration, or just a bad night at the office, this wasn’t the kind of performance Chicago wanted heading into a long break.
Still, the pause in the schedule offers a silver lining. With three weeks to rest, reset, and recover, the Blackhawks have a chance to come back refreshed - and hopefully healthier - for the stretch run. This season has always been about development and growth, and now, more than ever, that process is being tested.
The kids are learning on the fly. The schedule is unforgiving.
And the injuries keep piling up. But if there’s one thing this young group has shown, it’s resilience.
The second half of the season will be about finding that gear again - and seeing who’s ready to take the next step.