The first day of 2026 brought 18,801 fans to the United Center to watch the Chicago Blackhawks face the Dallas Stars. The Hawks upset the Stars at American Airlines Arena just five days prior, but they still faced a tall task Thursday night against a team that entered with the second-best record in the NHL.
Ilya Mikheyev scored two goals, and the Hawks held off a late Stars surge to open the new year with a 4-3 victory.
Mikheyev showcased his stick flair with a dazzling move at 9:14 of the second period, scoring to put the Hawks (15-18-7) up 3-1. Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen slammed his stick in frustration on the glass near the Stars bench, shattering it and causing a stoppage of play.
It was that type of night for the Stars (25-9-7).
On Saturday, the Hawks left Dallas with a 4-3 shootout victory. Rookie Nick Lardis was the hero, scoring the game-winner in the fourth round of the shootout. Without their two best players — injured centers Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar — the Hawks have played comfortably in both matchups against one of the best teams in the league.
“We’ve got to find that consistency and not have those drops that we’ve been having, for example against Pittsburgh and the start of last game (versus the New York Islanders),” said forward André Burakovsky, who had two assists. “We’ve got to find a way to do what we’re supposed to every shift.
“There’s going to be shifts where they get momentum, but then you’ve got to defend well and stay on the right side and not do those simple mistakes that we do sometimes that cost us goals. Today was a game we have to look at and bring more of this into the next couple games here.”
So what is it about the Stars matchup that makes the Hawks play so comfortably?
“Last week we gave up more significant chances, although tonight we did too,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “We got good goaltending in both games and that’s a big factor in winning and losing.
“I’m glad we maybe caught them at a time when they maybe didn’t have it going full steam. They’re an excellent team, one of the very best in the league.”
Special teams was one of the reasons the Hawks were able to dominate. They had four power-play opportunities while not getting penalized until halfway through the third period.
“I think we were just ready to play today, we did the right things well, we won the little battles, especially along the wall,” Ryan Donato said after his two-assist night. “As funny as it seems, the cliché things you do in hockey, we did them well tonight and I think that’s what led to our success.”
Artyom Levshunov opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 11:48 of the first period, his second goal of the season. It was a relief for Levshunov after he had two shots hit the post in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Islanders on Tuesday.
“Something that we focus and continue to work on is his shot mechanics,” Blashill said. “There’s things that could improve there that can help elevate his ability to shoot even to a higher level.
“He’s had a lot of chances on those areas, so it’s great to see it go in. It’s a huge thing for confidence.”
Teuvo Teräväinen scored the Hawks’ other power-play goal just 13 seconds into the second period for a 2-1 lead. The Hawks easily killed their only penalty of the game — a Louis Crevier interference at 10:14 of the third.
Mikheyev added his second of the game and eighth of the season at 3:58 of the third for a 4-1 lead before Jason Robertson and Matt Duchene scored late to pull the Stars within one, but the Hawks held on.
Mikheyev would’ve had a hat trick had his empty-net attempt not hit the post. Still, he had plenty of reasons to celebrate.
“It’s more exciting, you know?” Mikheyev said about playing after the birth of his first child. “Life’s changing and I’m really happy with it.”