The Chicago Blackhawks wrapped up their four-game road trip with a crushing 6-2 defeat against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night, finishing with a 0-3-1 record. This loss drops their season tally to 20-38-9.
Scoring Summary
Wyatt Kaiser and Alex Vlasic netted goals for Chicago, while goalie Arvid Soderblom managed only nine saves on 15 shots. Vancouver dominated the season series against the Blackhawks, sweeping them 3-0 and extending their winning streak over Chicago to 10 straight games.
Canucks Take Early Control
Vancouver struck quickly in the first period. Quinn Hughes opened the scoring, cutting to the net and beating Soderblom on the glove side. Just 35 seconds later, Tyler Myers fired one in from the left faceoff circle, putting the Canucks up 2-0 by the first intermission.
Chicago Fights Back in the Second
Midway through the second period, Conor Garland extended Vancouver’s lead to 3-0, maneuvering past Chicago’s defense and scoring on the backhand. However, Alex Vlasic responded with a screened shot, giving the Blackhawks their first goal and cutting the deficit to 3-1. This goal provided Chicago with some much-needed momentum heading into the final period.
Canucks Seal the Victory
Four minutes into the third period, Elias Pettersson fired a wrist shot off the post and in, making it 4-1 Vancouver. Play continued for a few seconds before Nils Höglander added another, but upon review, Pettersson’s goal was confirmed.
Wyatt Kaiser briefly reignited Chicago’s hopes, scoring from the left circle with a well-placed wrist shot to bring it to 4-2. Rookie defenseman Artyom Levshunov notched his first NHL point with an assist on the play.
However, Vancouver quickly shut down any comeback attempts. Nils Aman recorded his first goal of the season, and just eight seconds later, former Blackhawk Pius Suter capped the scoring at 6-2.
Bedard’s Frustrating Homecoming
Returning to his hometown, Connor Bedard endured a rough night, finishing without a point for the second consecutive game in Vancouver. The 19-year-old logged 18:36 of ice time, took two shots on goal, and ended with a -2 rating.
Adding to his frustration, Bedard received a 10-minute misconduct late in the third period following a heated exchange with multiple Canucks players. After the penalty was handed down, an irate Bedard skated off the ice and angrily threw his helmet down the tunnel.
Key Takeaways
- Levshunov’s Milestone Night
Artyom Levshunov, the second overall pick in the 2024 draft, recorded his first NHL point with an assist. Despite finishing with a -2 rating, he logged 22:39 of ice time, blocked four shots, and looked impressive on the power play. - Lack of Progress
Blackhawks fans have voiced frustration about the team’s stagnant performance, echoing Seth Jones’ postgame comments from late February when he stated, “We’re the exact same team now as we were in Game 1.” The struggles remain evident, with the Blackhawks continuing to show inconsistency and lack of improvement. - Defensive Struggles Persist
Chicago’s defense was porous throughout the game, giving Vancouver plenty of high-quality scoring opportunities. Goaltender Arvid Soderblom had a tough outing, allowing six goals on just 15 shots.
What’s Next?
The Blackhawks return home to face the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. CST, marking the start of a stretch where they play six of their next seven games on home ice.
