Playing a second game in as many nights continues to be an issue for the Chicago Blackhawks this season. In their fourth back-to-back in 2025-26, the Blackhawks suffered another lopsided loss in the back end on Sunday, falling 7-3 to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the United Center.
Not only is Chicago now 0-4-0 in the back end of back-to-backs, but they’ve been outscored 27-7 in those four games. Despite being on the wrong end of another one-sided affair, head coach Jeff Blashill thought his team didn’t play as poorly as the final score suggests, and the stats back that up. More in the links for the highlights and takeaways from Sunday’s defeat.
Also in Blackhawks news, top prospect Anton Frondell helped Team Sweden come back from a one-goal deficit in the third period to move to 2-0-0 at the 2026 World Junior Championship.
Around the league, Linus Ullmark has taken a leave of absence from the Senators, Matthew Tkachuk is back on the ice for the Panthers, and Mat Barzal might not be making the trip to Chicago with his Islanders teammates.
All that & more in the Daily!
Chicago Blackhawks Recap, News & Tidbits
Chicago Hockey Now: Just before puck drop last night in Chicago, the Blackhawks activated captain Nick Foligno off injured reserve. Foligno has been out since Nov. 15 with a hand injury, and the Blackhawks struggled mightily in his absence, going 5-12-2 in 19 games. While Foligno likely won’t be a huge help offensively, his veteran leadership is crucial to have back in the locker room.
More CHN: After shocking the Dallas Stars on Sunday, the Blackhawks couldn’t carry over the momentum to the back half of their weekend back-to-back against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Before anyone at the United Center could even blink, Pittsburgh grabbed a 4-0 lead in the first period. It was a rare shaky performance from Spencer Knight in net, as he was pulled for the first time since being acquired from the Florida Panthers.
At the 2026 World Juniors, Blackhawks 2025 No. 3 overall pick Anton Frondell recorded an assist on the game-tying goal and was plus-one in 19:01 of ice time in Sweden’s 4-2 comeback victory over Switzerland. The Swedes rallied for three unanswered goals in the third period to move to 2-0-0. Frondell now has three points in two games for the tournament.
#Blackhawks prospect Anton Frondell with the secondary assist on Viggo Bjork’s game-tying goal early in the 3rd period!
Sweden rallied for three unanswered goals in the 3rd to beat Switzerland 4-2 & move to 2-0-0.pic.twitter.com/a8erMhQ9Kc
— Talkin’ Hawkey (@TalkinHawkey) December 28, 2025
NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now
The Athletic: Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark is taking a leave of absence for “personal reasons,” the team announced Sunday. The 2023 Vezina Trophy winner holds a 14-8-5 record this season in 28 games with a 2.95 goals-against average and an .881 save percentage. On Saturday, he was pulled after allowing four goals on 14 shots in a 7-5 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
New York Post: Pure chaos ensued early in the second period between the New York Islanders and Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. After Mason Marchment blatantly tripped Matthew Schaefer with his leg, Mat Barzal took exception and immediately skated over to the Blue Jackets forward to give him a slash to the skates. Barzal was handed a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct. The Islanders are set to face the Blackhawks in Chicago on Tuesday, and it seems fairly likely that Barzal won’t make the trip with the team.
Florida Hockey Now: Look who’s back. The Florida Panthers had a welcome addition at practice on Sunday with Matthew Tkachuk joining the team for the first time this season. Tkachuk has not played for Florida this year after having surgery to repair a torn adductor and sports hernia in August.
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Here are the takeaways from Dan Kingerski on the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 7-3 beatdown over the Blackhawks on Sunday night. Justin Brazeau recorded his first career hat trick to give the Penguins the help they needed.
Montreal Hockey Now: After trailing 4-1 in the third period, the Montreal Canadiens rallied for three straight goals to tie the game 4-4 and force overtime. Sadly, the Habs couldn’t ride the wave and come away with the extra point, as Gage Concalves scored the shootout winner to lift the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 5-4 win.
Sportsnet: For the first time since recording two points in a 4-0 win over the Blackhawks on Dec. 13, Patrick Kane was back in the Detroit Red Wings’ lineup on Sunday. It wasn’t clear how Kane was injured, but after that contest against the Chicago, Red Wings coach Todd McLellan said he “tweaked” something in his upper body. Kane didn’t record a point in the Wings’ 3-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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