Connor Bedard returned to the lineup as the Chicago Blackhawks fell to the Washington Capitals 5–1 at the United Center. Photo courtesy of AP Jay Cohen.

Alex Ovechkin scored for the visiting Washington Captials (23-16-6), giving the future Hall of Famer his 19th goal on the season and 916th of his legendary career. The goal was the 40-year-old Russian’s fourth goal in three games.

The Chicago Blackhawks were hit with the illness bug as Jeff Blashill skipped the morning skate and goaltenders Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom were not dressed for the game in Chicago. Drew Commesso ended up getting the start in net and stopped 19 of the 25 shots in the loss.

First period

Decked out in their black sweaters, Chicago looked slow, lost and chasing the puck for most of the period as Washington scored three goals in the early frame to take the 3-0 lead into the first intermission. Anthony Beauvillier received a great pass from Martin Fehervary and tipped in the pass into a wide-open corner as Commesso was anticipating a shot from the point as forward Nick Lardis was slow getting off his check along the boards.

Chicago would fall behind 2-0 at the 15:07 mark when forward Connor McMichael beat defensemen Matt Grelzyck and Kevin Korchinski to a loose puck, skated between the two without being touched and slid a backhand through the five hole of Commesso. The goal, McMichael’s sixth of the season, was a great effort between two undecided defensemen.

Washington scored a minute before intermission when Ethan Frank scored his fifth goal after a Blackhawks turnover at the blue line and scored their third goal in six shots on Commesso.

Second period

Chicago would score its only goal of the game at the 8:48 mark of the second period when forward Oliver Moore snapped home his fifth goal of the season beating Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson.

OLIVER MOORE WITH AN ABSOLUTE SNIPE! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/dAvHWNFMKX

— NHL (@NHL) January 10, 2026

Washington would not wait long to regain the three-goal advantage when winger Justin Sourdif scored his ninth goal of the season.

Third period

Many fans came out to see the all-time NHL goal scoring leader Ovechkin for perhaps one final time on Chicago ice and the legend did not disappoint fans with his goal at the 13:33 mark of the last frame. Ovechkin found a loose puck in the neutral zone and fired a snap shot through the five hole of Commesso to finish off the Blackhawks 5-1.

Analysis

The Blackhawks had a five-game point streak snapped with the loss to the Capitals, which coincided with the return of forward Connor Bedard after a 12-game absence. Bedard played just over 17 minutes and did look a bit rusty. However, it is great to have the heart and soul back on the ice.

Commesso’s start to his NHL career has been slow, having been called up a few times as a “emergency” start but the 23-year-old goaltender has been solid in Rockford for a season and a half now for the rebuilding Blackhawks.

Korchinski was also called up last night as the “bug” ripped through the locker room and looked a bit out of place chasing the puck a bunch and did not make many positive plays in his 13:53 minutes of action.

The 5-1 loss will be a good learning experience for the young Blackhawks as this is a “throw away” game in the memories and move onto the next game after their run of five-point streak. The locker room needs to get healthy and back to full strength.

The Hawks return to action tonight, traveling to face the Nashville Predators for a 7 p.m. CST start.

Related