The Blackhawks suffered their worst loss of the season on Friday, as they got blown out 9-3 by the Buffalo Sabres in the back end of their back-to-back. It was one of the few non-competitive performances by the young group this season, as they were on their heels from start to finish in Western New York.
More in the links for the recap from a forgettable game at KeyBank Center, as the Blackhawks allowed nine goals for the first time since 2011.
Also in Blackhawks news, prospect Mason West capped off his career on the gridiron in style, Nick Lardis made an emphatic return to the lineup in Rockford, and the black alternate jerseys are BACK!
Around the league, a former Blackhawk is reportedly already back on the trade block, Morgan Geekie tied the NHL lead in goals, and Connor Hellebuyck is set to miss an extended period for Winnipeg.
All that & more in the Daily!
Chicago Blackhawks Recap, News & Tidbits
Chicago Hockey Now: Well, that was certainly one to flush down the toilet. The Blackhawks played their worst game of the year in Buffalo on Friday, as they gave up three goals in each of the three periods. Here are the highlights from an embarrassing 9-3 loss to the Sabres. The back-to-back did NOT treat the Hawks kindly.
More CHN: The Blackhawks played like they still hadn’t recovered from Thursday’s third-period meltdown against the Seattle Kraken. ICYMI, click on the link for a recap of a disastrous final 20 minutes from the front end of the back-to-back.
On Friday morning, the Blackhawks announced the return of the black alternate jerseys! There have been whispers and rumors of this in recent weeks, but now it’s official. Last worn in the 2008-09 campaign, the Blackhawks will rock the alternates seven times this season. They will debut on Black Friday next week against the Nashville Predators.
The Most Requested Jersey In Blackhawks History Returns.
In 1996-97, we ignited something electric—a black alternate that would become one of the most striking and beloved jerseys in hockey. Originally worn by Tony Amonte, Chris Chelios, Eric Daze and Denis Savard in the… pic.twitter.com/ozL0vdRWMf
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) November 21, 2025
In the AHL, prospect Nick Lardis returned to the lineup for the Rockford IceHogs on Friday after missing the last two games. Lardis made his presence felt in his first game back, as he scored his sixth and seventh goals of the season to help the IceHogs snap their losing skid. Aidan Thompson recorded the overtime winner to defeat the Texas Stars 4-3.
Congrats to 2025 first-round pick (No. 29 overall) Mason West and the Edina Hornets for winning the Minnesota 6A State Championship on Friday! West returned to high school for his senior year in hopes of winning a state title in football, and his dream came true at US Bank Arena in a 42-35 win over Moorhead. The dual-sport athlete has now won state in both football and hockey. West will join the Fargo Force in the USHL to resume his hockey career in the next couple of weeks.
Out in the WHL, Nathan Behm potted his 15th goal of the season in the Kamloops Blazers’ 7-4 loss on Friday. Behm remains third in the league in scoring with 35 points through 23 games. His teammate, JP Hurlbert, leads the WHL with 42 points on the season.
NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now
The Athletic: The Winnipeg Jets currently sit in one of the two Wild Card spots in the Western Conference, but they will have a tough stretch ahead without their star goaltender. Connor Hellebuyck will undergo a minor Arthroscopic knee procedure and is set to miss four to six weeks while recovering. The Jets will be forced to lean on a duo of Eric Comrie and 22-year-old Thomas Milic with Hellebuyck out.
ProHockeyRumors: Less than one month ago, the Blackhawks traded former first-round pick Lukas Reichel to the Vancouver Canucks in a change-of-scenery deal. However, Reichel hasn’t fit in too well with his new team, with just one secondary assist in 13 games and no shots on goal in his last six outings. As a result, the Canucks have now reportedly thrown Reichel back on the trade block. I can’t imagine Vancouver would be looking at much of a return…
Boston Hockey Now: Morgan Geekie was responsible for both goals for the Boston Bruins in a 2-1 overtime win over the Los Angeles Kings on Friday night. Geekie is now tied with Nathan MacKinnon for the league lead in goals with 16 on the season.
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: After last playing on Sunday in a different continent, the Pittsburgh Penguins unsurprisingly got off to a woeful start against the Minnesota Wild. Pittsburgh had a lackluster first period to fall behind 3-0 quickly at PPG Paints Arena, and they never found a way to recover.
Montreal Hockey Now: With the Montreal Canadiens banged up at the center ice position, the club recalled Florian Xhekaj from the Laval Rocket. The Habs don’t have many other options right now.
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