The Chicago Blackhawks returned to the United Center on Tuesday night to face the Anaheim Ducks following two straight road losses in Seattle and Vancouver. Looking to find some consistency on offense, Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson shook up his lines, including moving Connor Bedard to the wing with Jason Dickinson at center and Joey Anderson on the other side. The Hawks started Arvid Soderblom in net against Anaheim’s John Gibson. For the Hawks, Drew Commesso was called up from Rockford earlier in the day with Petr Mrazek unavailable due to a personal matter.
First period
It was not until late in the first for the new first line to pay off, as Bedard set up Dickinson for his third of the season to give the Hawks a 1–0 lead. Bedard took the puck from TJ Brodie at the blue line, skated into the deep slot and made a tape-to-tape pass to Dickinson in the left circle, who one-timed a shot past Gibson at 17:03.
high fives all around🫸🫷 pic.twitter.com/rHQSGaNyDr
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) November 20, 2024
A little over two minutes later, the Ducks tied it on a goal by Pavel Mintyukov. Brett Leason stole the puck from Brodie in the left circle and he made a cross-ice pass to Mintyukov, who buried a one-timer to tie it at 1–1 at 19:05. The game remained tied after 20 minutes.
Second period
The Hawks regained the lead at 2–1 when Bedard fed Dickinson for his second of the game and fourth of the season. Bedard skated behind the net and found Dickinson skating through the slot with a no-look dish and Dickinson slapped one past Gibson at 3:54.
bedard + dickinson = 🚨 pic.twitter.com/mZFZ0lUqaU
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) November 20, 2024
The Hawks held a one-goal lead through two periods.
Third period
Alex Killorn tied the game at 2–2 with his third of the season. Shortly after an Anaheim power play expired, the Ducks kept the pressure on. From behind the net, Trevor Zegras found Killorn in front and he backhanded a shot past Soderblom at the 5:10 mark.
The Ducks took their first lead of the game on a goal by Leo Carlsson at 9:38. Zegras made a clean zone entry and fed Killorn at the half boards, who fed Carlsson, who drove the net and deflected the pass in for his sixth of the season.
With the net empty, the Hawks applied some pressure on Gibson but could not get the equalizer and the Ducks hung on for a 3–2 win.
Analysis
The Hawks may have let one slip away against a team that was playing their second game in as many nights. The Ducks appeared to have more energy and played more physical, especially in the third period, and they were rewarded for their effort with two goals and the eventual win.
The Hawks return to home ice on Thursday night when they face the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m. CST on ESPN+ and Hulu with the radio call on WGN 720.