In perhaps the most promising performance since Kyle Davidson took over as GM, the Chicago Blackhawks dominated the rival St. Louis Blues in an 8-3 victory at the Enterprise Center late on Wednesday night. Those who stayed awake despite the ridiculous 8:52 p.m. puck drop were rewarded, as were all the fans who’ve remained patient and trusted the plan Davidson has laid out since being hired nearly four years ago. After Wednesday’s beatdown over the Blues, it’s clear the Blackhawks are building towards something special. Now the fun really begins.
For the Blackhawks, it was their first eight-goal output since March 8th, 2022, when Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane were still members of the team. It was also their largest margin of victory on the road since 2019. 13 different players registered at least one point in St. Louis, including several key pieces of Davidson’s rebuild.
Leading the charge was 2023 No. 1 overall pick Connor Bedard, as he picked up three assists and made a few highlight-reel passes. Bedard also once again showed that he’s not going to back down from anyone in his third NHL campaign. He mixed it up with big Blues’ defensemen Tyler Tucker and Colton Parayko during the game, and while he needs to tread carefully, you have to respect that he’s standing up for himself more and more.
Another former first-round pick with a three-point night was Lukas Reichel, although he wasn’t drafted during Davidson’s tenure. Because of that, he’s had to watch several up-and-coming prospects pass him in the pecking order in recent years. Reichel was inserted into the Blackhawks’ lineup for only the second time this season on Wednesday, and he certainly cashed in on his opportunity. The speedy 23-year-old forward netted the first multi-goal game of his career, added an assist, and led the team with five shots on goal. Ice time has been hard to come by for Reichel, but he earned himself more of it with his excellent play versus the Blues.
Alex Vlasic, a 2019 second-round pick who’s become a defensive stalwart in his first few NHL seasons, picked up two assists and led the team with 22:07 of ice time. Frank Nazar, the 13th overall pick in 2022, scored a highlight reel goal and played with great pace all night long. Ryan Greene, another member of the Blackhawks’ 2022 Draft Class, potted his first NHL goal and was all smiles afterward. And while 19-year-old Artyom Levshunov didn’t wind up on the stat sheet, he finished with a plus-three rating and played a steady game defensively.
It’s taken over half a decade for the new era of Chicago Blackhawks hockey to be properly pieced together, but Wednesday’s win showcased the remarkably bright future the franchise possesses. The Young & Fun Blackhawks have officially arrived.
Here are the highlights and more key takeaways from an epic night in St. Louis.
FIRST PERIOD
It’s always easier to stay up late and watch an entire hockey game when there’s constant action right from the opening faceoff. Fortunately, that was the case on Wednesday, as the two teams went blow for blow in the first period at the Enterprise Center.
Ilya Mikheyev, who scored two of the Blackhawks’ three goals in Monday’s win over Utah, kicked off the scoring just over three minutes into the contest. Mikheyev was the beneficiary of a brutal giveaway from Blues’ goaltender Joel Hofer, who had himself an interesting night. Mikheyev now has three goals in the last six periods and has found the back of the net in his past three games against St. Louis. He likely won’t score an easier goal for the rest of his career.
Just over a minute later, the Blues answered right back with a goal of their own to even up the score, as Jake Neighbors picked up his fourth tally of the season. Arvid Soderblom made a nifty save on the initial shot, but Neighbors was there to clean up the loose change.
It didn’t take long for the Blackhawks to regain their lead, as Reichel raced into the offensive zone and beat Hofer from a bad angle for his first goal of the game. Matt Grzelcyk recorded the lone assist for his first point with Chicago.
Matt Grzelcyk➡️Lukas Reichel🚨
Reichel races into the offensive zone & snaps a shot past Hofer from a bad angle to give the #Blackhawks a 2-1 lead! 1st goal of the season for Reichel in just his 2nd game. Grzelcyk tallies his 1st point with Chicago.pic.twitter.com/bQGBqrnwET
— Talkin’ Hawkey (@TalkinHawkey) October 16, 2025
The two teams continued to trade chances for the remainder of the period, but the Blues had the only goal over the final 14 minutes. Dylan Hollway beat Tyler Bertuzzi in a foot race and fired a shot past Soderblom in transition to tie the game 2-2. Connor Murphy was a little too slow in closing in on Hollway before he let go of the shot.
One other clip I wanted to share from the period was a great sequence in the D-zone from Wyatt Kaiser, who’s been among the best defensive defensemen in the league early on this season. Kaiser made an excellent play on Blues’ winger Jordan Kyrou to strip him of the puck along the boards and get a clear. That’s how it’s done, young fella!
SECOND PERIOD
The second period was an issue for the Blackhawks against the Mammoth, but they were the ones in full control of the middle frame this time around. But before the goal-scoring barrage began, Soderblom made a spectacular save on Kyrou to keep the game tied 2-2 in the opening minute. Who knows what happens if the Swedish netminder doesn’t come up with this stop?
The Blackhawks’ first of three goals in the period came off an excellent all-around play in the offensive zone. After Vlasic pinched along the left boards to knock the puck down low, Bedard forced a turnover behind the Blues’ net, and then Reichel redirected a shot from the point for his second goal of the game. The visitors jumped back ahead, and it would stay that way for the rest of the night.
Connor Bedard➡️Alex Vlasic➡️Lukas Reichel🚨
Vlasic makes a great pinch, Bedard forces a turnover, & then Reichel deflects a shot past Hofer to put the #Blackhawks ahead 3-2! What a play all around! Reichel with his 2nd goal of the game🔥pic.twitter.com/hoOmEH1cvE
— Talkin’ Hawkey (@TalkinHawkey) October 16, 2025
Nazar joined in on the fun with an incredible goal to extend the lead to 4-2. The 21-year-old forward’s strong start to the season continues, as he showed off his incredible wheels, soft mitts, and infectious personality on his second goal of the year. The kid just wanted to celebrate!
Blues’ head coach Jim Montgomery pulled Hofer after allowing a fourth goal, which sent Jordan Binnington into the game. Jason Dickinson gave Binnington a warm welcome, as he fired a knuckler short-side over his left shoulder for his first goal of the season. A third unanswered goal put the Blackhawks ahead 5-2.
Alex Vlasic➡️Jason Dickinson🚨
The Certified Goal Scorer returns! Dickinson gets in on the goal party here in the 2nd with his 1st goal of the season. 5-2 #Blackhawks now. Vlasic gets his 2nd assist of the night.pic.twitter.com/9lm0Zv57Vl
— Talkin’ Hawkey (@TalkinHawkey) October 16, 2025
The second period on Wednesday was the best period of the season so far for Chicago. They led 14-8 in scoring chances, 6-2 in high-danger chances, and 3-0 in goals for at even strength to grab a three-goal advantage going into the third.
THIRD PERIOD
Closing out games has been an issue for this young Blackhawks group so far in the 2025-26 campaign, and even with a three-goal lead, I don’t think many fans felt too comfortable entering the final period.
Whatever head coach Jeff Blashill said during the second intermission definitely resonated with his players, as they impressively kept their foot on the pedal over the final 20 minutes, which is a welcome change of pace. Far too many times in the past have the Blackhawks sat back late in the game and tried to hang on for dear life with the lead.
A 30-goal scorer just last year, Ryan Donato finally found the back of the net for the first time this year to put a touchdown on the board just over one minute into the period. Vlasic registered his second assist of the game. BTW, the Blues put Hofer back into the game for the start of the third. That sure backfired.
Next up was Bertuzzi, as he deflected Teuvo Teravainen’s one-timer from the right circle for a power-play goal. Look at the remarkable cross-ice feed made by Bedard for his second assist of the game. The extra point is good! Bertuzzi has his first goal of the season.
The Blackhawks didn’t stop until the final horn sounded, and Greene added his first NHL goal to serve up an eight-piece dinner to the Blues on home ice. Once again, Bedard made an excellent pass to start the scoring sequence. Both he and Reichel picked up their third point of the game on this play. Congrats, Ryan!
Connor Bedard➡️Lukas Reichel➡️Ryan Greene🚨
RYAN GREENE 1ST NHL GOAL! #Blackhawks now lead 8-3. Bedard (3A) & Reichel (2G, 1A) each get their 3rd points of the game. What a night it’s been here in St. Louis!pic.twitter.com/d2f5TLKeIm
— Talkin’ Hawkey (@TalkinHawkey) October 16, 2025
The Blackhawks have now outscored their opponents 11-4 during their brief two-game winning streak. The Blues, on the other hand, have been outscored 13-3 in their first two games on home ice this year. There weren’t many St. Louis fans who stuck around until the end, so it appears.
A “Let’s Go Hawks” chant broke out briefly here in St. Louis. It’s been a loooooong time since that’s happened here.
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) October 16, 2025
Blackhawks Receive National Love
It’s funny how fast things change. Throughout most of last season, the Blackhawks, and more specifically, Bedard, were frequently being criticized by most of the national media. Well, Chicago’s young group was the talk of the hockey world late Wednesday night, and they were receiving some pretty high praise.
Are the Chicago Blackhawks… nasty?
— Nathan “Grav” Murdock (@NathanGraviteh) October 16, 2025
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