The Chicago Blackhawks scored more than two goals in a single game for the first time since Connor Bedard got injured, but their losing streak still reached five games on Saturday afternoon at Canadian Tire Center. David Perron scored twice, while Tim Stutzle recorded three points to lift the Ottawa Senators to a 6-4 win over the Blackhawks.
Not only did the Blackhawks finish their Canadian road trip without a win or a single point, going 0-3-0 in three games, but they also lost another key player to injury on Saturday. Frank Nazar, who has been serving as the team’s top line center while Bedard has been out, was hit in the face with a puck in the first period and did not return to the game.
During his postgame media session, head coach Jeff Blashill said that Nazar will be out for an extended period, likely somewhere around four weeks. That’s a devastating loss for the Blackhawks, as Nazar is fourth on the team in points this season and plays in all situations. Chicago is now going to be without their top two centers for a significant stretch.
“He’ll miss time, for sure,” Blashill said. “Approximately four weeks. He’ll be out for a while.”
Despite losing Nazar early, the Blackhawks were much-improved offensively in Ottawa, especially compared to their first three games without Bedard in the lineup. It’s only the second time in the last 16 games that they’ve scored four goals in a game. Ilya Mikheyev had two tallies, while Andre Burakovsky and rookie Nick Lardis also found the back of the net.
For Lardis, it was his first NHL goal, which gave the Blackhawks some late life after a putrid start to the third period. Lardis was curiously demoted to the fourth line on Saturday, where he skated with bottom-six grinders Colton Dach and Sam Lafferty. He only received 8:17 of ice time in the loss, but impressively managed to make an impact. Lardis will likely receive an increased role moving forward, with Nazar expected to miss around one month.
“That was a pretty special moment,” said Lardis, who also mentioned that his dad was in attendance to witness his first NHL tuck. “I guess that’s just one of my strengths, just being in the right spots at the right time in the offensive zone.”
Defensively, the Blackhawks couldn’t keep the puck out of their own net on Saturday, which cost them a crucial two points. Backup goaltender Arvid Soderblom’s struggles continued, as he allowed six goals on 40 shots faced. Soderblom has now lost each of his last five starts and has surrendered a disastrous 29 goals during that stretch.
With Laurent Brossoit waiting in limbo to be traded, one has to wonder if the Blackhawks are considering making a change with their NHL tandem. It couldn’t hurt to showcase Brossoit for a few games, while it could also allow for Soderblom to reset in the AHL. The 26-year-old looks like he needs it, as he’s been fighting the puck consistently for the last month.
Here are the highlights from the 6-4 loss to the Senators on Saturday, which drops the Blackhawks’ record to 13-16-6 on the season. They are also now 3-11-2 in 16 games since Nov. 20.
FIRST PERIOD
Blashill and video coaches Matt Meacham and Adam Gill picked up where they left off on Thursday, as they successfully challenged an early goal from the Senators to keep the game scoreless. Tim Stutzle finished off a feed from Thomas Chabot, but Fabian Zetterlund clearly initiated contact with Soderblom before the puck crossed the goal line. That’s now three overturned goals in three periods for Blashill and his video staff.
Just a few moments after Stutzle’s goal was taken off the board, Nazar was hit in the face with the puck while defending in front of his own net. Nazar suffered a nasty gash on his cheek and immediately headed to the Blackhawks’ dressing room. He was ruled out for the remainder of the game by the team during the first intermission.
Just past the 6:30 mark of the period, the Blackhawks’ video staff was back at it again. Blashill challenged the Senators’ goal from Tyler Kleven for goaltender interference, as Brady Tkachuk looked to prevent Soderblom from making a pad stop at the far post. However, the officials didn’t see enough on the replay this time to overturn the call, and the goal stood. 1-0, Ottawa.
It was another lifeless start for the Blackhawks’ offense at even strength, with only four scoring chances and eight shots on goal in the period. Ottawa took a 1-0 lead into the intermission.
SECOND PERIOD
Less than two minutes into the second period, the Blackhawks scored just their fourth goal in four games without Bedard. Wyatt Kaiser made a remarkable stretch pass to find Ilya Mikheyev racing into the offensive zone for a partial breakaway. Mikheyev snuck a shot through Leevi Merilainen’s wickets to tie the game 1-1. It’s Mikheyev’s fifth goal of the season and first since Nov. 5, snapping a 20-game goal drought.
Ryan Greene➡️Wyatt Kaiser➡️Ilya Mikheyev🚨
Kaiser springs Mikheyev for his 5th goal of the season to tie the game 1-1! It’s Mikheyev’s first goal since Nov. 5th. Kaiser now has 3 points in the last 5 games. #Blackhawkspic.twitter.com/aHlJDHXgOb
— Talkin’ Hawkey (@TalkinHawkey) December 20, 2025
The Blackhawks went to the power play just a few minutes after Mikheyev’s goal for an opportunity to grab the lead for the first time. However, the Senators were the ones to find the back of the net in the two-minute sequence. Teuvo Teravainen committed a brutal giveaway at center ice, and Tim Stutzle finished off his own breakaway chance to put Ottawa back ahead 2-1.
Chicago was much improved on its next man advantage, however. Near the midway point of the period, Andre Burakovsky’s shot changed direction and snuck past Merilainen to tie the game 2-2. That’s the first power-play goal for the Blackhawks since Dec. 7, against the Anaheim Ducks. Greene picked up his second assist of the afternoon on the play.
Artyom Levshunov➡️Ryan Greene➡️Andre Burakovsky🚨
Burakovsky scores his 9th goal of the season to tie the game 2-2 on the power play! Greene picks up his 2nd assist of the afternoon. #Blackhawkspic.twitter.com/CMQhfMwtaC
— Talkin’ Hawkey (@TalkinHawkey) December 20, 2025
With just under six minutes remaining in the period, the Senators answered back to regain their lead. Artyom Levshunov’s clearing attempt didn’t get out of the zone, and Thomas Chabot gained possession and set up Tkachuk in the slot to make it a 3-2 game.
But the Blackhawks showed off their resiliency again in the final minute of the frame, as Mikheyev put home his second goal of the day and sixth of the season to tie the score 3-3. Soderblom made an excellent stretch pass from his net to create the rush.
Oliver Moore➡️Ryan Donato➡️Ilya Mikheyev🚨
Mikheyev scores his 2nd goal of the day & 6th of the season to tie the game 3-3 late in the 2nd period! Awesome stretch pass from Arvid Soderblom to create the rush. #Blackhawkspic.twitter.com/uUs41U2UXk
— Talkin’ Hawkey (@TalkinHawkey) December 20, 2025
It was great to see the Blackhawks’ offense finally come to life in the second period. The score was tied 3-3 going into the intermission, while the Senators had a slight 23-21 edge in shots on goal and a 12-10 lead in scoring chances at even strength.
THIRD PERIOD
Ottawa came out of the second intermission with a purpose, while the Blackhawks didn’t look ready to play. David Perron scored just 1:45 into the period to put the Senators back ahead by one.
Perron, a notorious Blackhawks killer throughout his career, added his second goal of the game just a few minutes later to put the Senators ahead by a pair. 6-4. That’s now 22 goals in 67 career games against Chicago for Perron.
Despite being slotted on the fourth line on Saturday, it ended up being a day that rookie Nick Lardis will remember forever. After taking in a pass from Alex Vlasic, Lardis netted a spinning backhanded shot for his first NHL goal to cut the Blackhawks’ deficit to 5-4. Lardis is an Ontario native and played his entire junior career in the Ontario Hockey League. What a moment for the kid.
The Blackhawks came close to tying the game a few times in the final half of the period, but Merilainen made some big stops to keep his team ahead by one.
With under four minutes remaining, the Blackhawks allowed a back-breaking goal, as Zetterlund fired a shot from the slot to extend the Senators’ lead back to two. That was basically the nail in the coffin for the Hawks.
Ryan Donato committed a frustration penalty in the final minutes, and the Blackhawks never pulled their goaltender for an attempt to tie the score.
That now marks five consecutive losses for Blashill’s bunch. Chicago returns to action next on Tuesday at home against the Philadelphia Flyers.
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