The Chicago Blackhawks came into Tuesday night’s action looking to reverse their fortunes after dropping a 4–2 decision to the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. Pat Maroon came back into the lineup after missing the last game with an illness, with Philipp Kurashev coming out to make space in the lineup. Petr Mrazek got the start in net, looking to continue his strong play to start the season.
First period
This one started real rough, real quick. Twenty-one seconds in, Kiefer Sherwood got a steal alongside the boards in the Blackhawks’ zone. He passed it across to Teddy Blueger and then to Danton Heinen, making it 1–0 Canucks. At the 4:39 mark of the frame, Jason Dickinson got called for a trip against J.T. Miller. On the ensuing power play, Quinn Hughes put a shot off the end boards that came out in front to Miller, who quickly made it 2–0 Vancouver.
The Blackhawks would get one back, though, in short order. After a pinch by Alex Vlasic, Dickinson stuck with a play behind the net, feeding it in front to Ryan Donato for his second of the season, 2–1 Vancouver. But, just over a minute later, Heinen would pick up his second on a deflected shot from Filip Hronek at the point, 3–1 Vancouver. The goal debatably should have been disallowed due to an offside from Vancouver upon entering the zone, but after a Blackhawks challenge, the goal was upheld.
We were not done with scoring in the first, though. Taylor Hall came up with a loose puck in between the circles and fired it home for the 700th point of his career, making it 3–2 Canucks.
Taylor Hall rips it home for the 700th point of his career! 👏
📺: Frozen Frenzy action all night on @espn & @ESPNPlus ➡️ https://t.co/S5tPrXCygm pic.twitter.com/Rvo7A4zJQd
— NHL (@NHL) October 23, 2024
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Two minutes later, the Canucks got it right back on a Conor Garland rebound opportunity, giving the Canucks back their two-goal lead, again in controversial fashion.
I stand corrected: Vancouver had SEVEN players on the ice prior to scoring their fourth goal. The officials missed it. Chicago’s bench was irate. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/TJpYqXeIiZ
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) October 23, 2024
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The back-and-forth first would end with Vancouver up 4–2.
Second period
The Blackhawks received two more power play opportunities in the second, but could not convert and could barely get any opportunities to score on these chances. Seth Jones was brutal, with an abundance of turnovers and overall brutal play to keep things where we ended the first, 4–2 Canucks.
Third period
It took halfway through the period this time, but the Blackhawks gave up another power play on a Connor Murphy trip of Elias Pettersson. Brock Boeser got the tip out in front this time, 13 seconds into the power play, making it 5–2. Old friend Pius Suter showed up a few minutes later to increase the lead further, 6–2 Vancouver. The Blackhawks would get one back on a two-man advantage, with Tyler Bertuzzi scoring to make it 6–3. That is how this one would end, with Vancouver taking control the whole way through.
Analysis
The Blackhawks played, to this point, their worst game of the season on Tuesday night. Defense was horrid, special teams may as well have not shown up and Mrazek was hung out to dry several times throughout this very one-sided contest. The top line has to be producing, and with Connor Bedard a -3 on the evening, it is clear that they were not playing their best in this one, either.
Mrazek put up his first stinker of the season, with a .800 save percentage in this one, compared to being over .900 in every other game he has played this season. Vancouver got away with a couple, including having seven skaters on the ice at one point leading up to a goal, but that still would not have made a difference in the end. With some brutal play from Jones, it is clear that he is not the player the Blackhawks’ previous regime thought they were getting when they traded for him, as he has played his worst hockey here in Chicago.
Hall was the lone bright spot, picking up point No. 700 in this one as he looks to work his way back from missing almost all of last season. He looks good so far, as he is playing with confidence and playing smart hockey.
Congrats on 7️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ career points, @hallsy09! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/ujZXTw3Cp8
— WGN Radio 720 (@WGNRadio) October 23, 2024
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The Blackhawks’ next game is on Friday versus the Nashville Predators. That game will be at 7:30 p.m. CDT.