The United Center didn’t have much to cheer for to begin a frigid Tuesday night. The Chicago Blackhawks were dealt seven goals by the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday and lost seven of their past eight games as the new and improved New York Islanders paid a visit to the Windy City.
The Isles led the Chicago Blackhawks 2-0 after first-period goals from centers Calum Ritchie (2:56) and Bo Horvat (12:08). “Green Bay sucks” chants filled the stadium again to kill time.
The Hawks quickly regained the fans’ attention. Teuvo Teräväinen (15:31) and Nick Lardis (19:57) tied things up with second-period goals to restore the energy.
Shots continued to fly for the home team, but the puck was like a magnet as it kept hitting iron. Nick Foligno’s practically empty net attempt at the end of regulation hit the right post, leading to a shootout.
Potentially lucky to be in the position, the Isles then snatched victory from the Hawks (14-18-7) with a 3-2 win.
The Hawks have lost seven of their nine overtime/shootout contests this season.
Hawks coach Jeff Blashill was dissatisfied with how the game started. He used the term “brain-dead” to describe how his team came out after the puck dropped.
“That was as poor of a start as we’ve had,” Blashill said. “I thought from our heads being in it, I didn’t think we were where we needed to be with the mental focus for that first 10 minutes.”
Blashill credited the fight his team presented after the poor first period. He said the Hawks will continue to push, despite the odds being against them.
“It’s a 60-minute game and teams are too good, we probably got away with that start and we were able to claw in it again,” Blashill said. “I thought we played really good after that … guys stepped into the roles and did a good job.”
Teräväinen, Lardis and center Oliver Moore skated on the third line together, a roster adjustment made to hopefully add some shots and scoring chances. Initial results showed this may be a much-needed combination.
The three kept the pressure on the Islanders defense and made goaltender David Rittich (17 saves) stay at attention. The Hawks didn’t get the win, but positive results from the line could continue down the road.
“It’s fun playing with those guys,” Moore said. “(Lardis) and I have been clicking since we started the year (in Rockford), so it’s been fun to play with them.”
Added left winger Lardis: “It was great, we were generating a lot. Even in the first and second, I thought we had a lot of good looks. Sometimes we got a little unlucky there with some chances, but I thought we generated well.”
Lardis received a loud ovation when he started the first round of the shootout thanks to his game-winning heroics in Dallas on Saturday. He called it a special moment.
“It’s awesome, super motivating,” Lardis said. “Sharing that with (Moore) was awesome.”
Horvat was the Staten Island superhero for New York (22-14-4). He scored the only shootout goal between both teams.
Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer assisted on Horvat’s first goal, giving him 25 points on the season. The 2025 No. 1 draft pick is the youngest defenseman in NHL history to hit that milestone.
The Hawks, still without their 2023 No. 1 draft pick in Connor Bedard, have a new problem regarding center depth. Alternate captain Jason Dickinson left the game in the second period and didn’t return.
Blashill called him day-to-day and said that he was dealing with “something different” than his previous injury. Dickinson is questionable to play the Hawks’ home game against the Dallas Stars on New Year’s Day.
“It’s a muscular issue, I think he’ll be all right,” Blashill said. “I just don’t know how long.”
Dickinson spent some time early in the season on injured reserve as he dealt with a nagging shoulder injury. The 30-year-old has scored eight points (four goals, four assists) in 2025-26.
“He’s such a good person, he’s such a good teammate, he’s a real good hockey player (and) when he’s healthy, he means a lot to us,” Blashill said. “It sucks that he’s got to constantly (has to) grind through different stuff.
“I feel for him because he’s a guy you love having around, you love having him as part of your team and you love having him on the ice.”
That’s now the team’s three best centers — Bedard, Frank Nazar and Dickinson — out with injuries. Blashill will have to be creative with his lineups if Dickinson needs to miss time.
Moore may have made a case as a top line center if his name needs to be called. He created many scoring chances, something Blashill has looked for.
“That was the best game (Moore’s) played for sure, hands down,” Blashill said. “He looked like a real confident, almost different player out there to me.”
Added Moore: “I played (center) for most of my life, so it’s something that was an easy adjustment. I think it definitely helps free me up a little bit.”
The Hawks will start 2026 coming off a loss. The team’s New Year’s resolution remains the same as the beginning of the season: to learn.
“We’ve gone to the next day and tried to learn from the game before and move on and that’s the approach we’ll continue to take,” Blashill said.