The Chicago Blackhawks welcomed the surprising Metropolitan Division-leading Washington Capitals to the United Center for a Tuesday-night tilt. The Hawks were coming off a last-minute 5–3 win at home over the New York Islanders when Connor Bedard scored the game-winner with 54 seconds left in regulation. The Blackhawks started Arvid Soderblom against the Caps’ Logan Thompson.
First period
The Caps struck first on Pierre-Luc Dubois’ fifth goal of the season. While on the forecheck, Dubois picked the pocket of Louis Crevier and skated in alone and the puck trickled in past Soderblom at 4:16 of the first to give Washington a 1–0 advantage.
Washington took a 2–0 lead when Andrew Mangiapane scored his seventh of the season. Mangiapane skated in 1-on-1 against TJ Brodie through the left circle and then completely undressed his former teammate, skated in alone, crossed the goal mouth and beat a fallen Soderblom at 13:18. For only the 12th time in 32 games this season, the Hawks trailed after the first frame.
Second period
A scoreless middle period featured the Hawks controlling the play. They spent the majority of the frame in the Washington zone thanks to three power plays. All three power-play opportunities looked impressive, yet the Hawks came up empty and still trailed 2–0 after 40 minutes. The Hawks outshot the Caps 10–6 in the period for a 19–11 advantage through two.
Third period
The Caps carried over some power play time, but it was the Blackhawks who lit the lamp to cut the deficit to 2–1. Ilya Mikheyev forced a turnover, which sprung Teuvo Teravainen up the left side. Teravainen fed Mikheyev, who skated around Jakob Chychrun and flipped a backhand past Thompson for his fourth of the season at the 51-second mark.
the correct way to celebrate 300 games👏 pic.twitter.com/BbbcxL9Lna
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) December 18, 2024
With 5:53 left in regulation, Brodie made up for his defensive undoing in the first period by scoring the equalizer. Alex Vlasic led a rush up the ice, passed to Teravainen, who fed Mikheyev, who dished to Brodie at the point and he fired the puck past Thompson for his second of the season to tie the game at 2–2.
and we’re all tied up at 2-2😮💨 pic.twitter.com/tJI5x3Fqdl
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) December 18, 2024
The Hawks took a 3–2 lead with 2:18 left on Ryan Donato’s team-leading 11th of the season. A strong shift by Donato saw him win a board battle in the corner against John Carlson and then made a strong move skating in front of the net where he went around Thompson and tucked it in the right pad. The Hawks held on for a 3–2 win.
WHERE THERE’S A WILL THERE’S A WAY pic.twitter.com/SgHcb3AnA1
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) December 18, 2024
Analysis
This was arguably the Blackhawks’ best win of the season. The Hawks outplayed one of the best teams in the NHL for the first two periods but had nothing to show for it. The shorthanded goal early in the third by Mikheyev gave the Hawks the some life. The Hawks also received a strong third-period performance from Soderblom, who faced 11 shots through 40 minutes then stopped all 10 he faced in the final frame. It was also a game of retribution for two Hawks defensemen in Brodie and Crevier. After both were beat 1-on-1 in the first period leading to both Washington goals, both stepped up in the third as Brodie scored the tying goal and Crevier absolutely pasted Tom Wilson with a check to the boards in the corner of the Hawks’ defensive zone in the final minute while the Hawks were looking to close it out.
The Hawks return to home ice on Thursday night when they host the Seattle Kraken on a night where they will honor new Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Jeremy Roenick. Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m. CST on CHSN+ with the radio call on 720 AM WGN.