The Chicago Blackhawks have buried themselves in different sized holes this season. Friday versus the Colorado Avalanche was one of those nights.
The Stanley Cup favorites ran their offense with ease against the black sweaters, giving goaltender Arvid Söderblom a stress-filled game. The Hawks usually keep the night interesting for the United Center fans despite being outplayed.
They’ve teased fans with comebacks all season, only to fall short. Flipping those games may be the key to becoming a playoff team.
There was none of that Friday night. The Avalanche made it clear who’s the better team and who will be in the playoffs come April with a dominating 4-1 victory.
“We didn’t have it tonight, and they did,” Hawks coach Jeff Blashill said. “I thought they came out and played really well.”
The Avalanche clinched a postseason berth and their 100th point with the win, becoming the first team in the NHL to do both. They have won five straight against the Hawks, who at 26-31-12 have the second-fewest wins in the league and are headed toward their sixth straight season of missing the playoffs.
“Too many times we were just standing still with and without the puck, so then you’re in a grind,” Blashill said. “We didn’t have our skating legs, and I think it’s just another learning process of how to grind through that.”
The Hawks (26-31-12) had their backs against the wall from the second the puck dropped. The Avs (45-13-10) sent 20 shots on goal at Söderblom in the first period, including a Martin Necas wrister at 13:19 and a highlight Brock Nelson deflection at 15:22.
The Hawks didn’t give much reason for the Avs to stop shooting, but they did get slightly in rhythm in the second period. Wyatt Kaiser didn’t waste a good find from Ryan Greene and scored his sixth goal of the season at 6:48.
“I didn’t know of (Greene) was going to find me,” Kaiser said. “I knew they were changing and we were changing. I tried to jump in the middle to at least give (Greene) some option. It landed on my stick. What a pass.”
Blackhawks defenseman Wyatt Kaiser scores against Avalanche goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood during the second period Friday, March 20, 2026, at the United Center. (Erin Hooley/AP)
Added Greene: “He surprised me a little bit. I saw he had to step on the guy (so I tried) to feather it in there to him, happy he put it in.
The Avalanche put 49 shots on goal. Söderblom, who made 45 saves, was the sole reason they didn’t hit double digits in goals. Avs center Nathan MacKinnon had three assists, running his season total to 69 and his points total to 114, tied for second-most in the league, one behind Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid.
The penalty kill (84.1%) had been the Hawks forté this season, but it has taken a hit since the trade deadline. The best kill in the league now belongs to the Pittsburgh Penguins at 84.2%.
The Avs scored two power-play goals, one from Nelson and the other from Nazem Kadri just 36 seconds into the third period. As younger Hawks skaters adapt to new roles, the lows are a part of the lessons.
“Penalty kill’s one of those things where there’s so many different nuances that happen,” Blashill said. “We certainly have our structure, but I don’t know any way to learn it without going through it.”
The end goal of Blashill’s learning process: being able to match the Avalanche and other Stanley Cup contenders. Friday was proof the Hawks are a ways away.
“(Colorado’s) level is a level that we want to get to,” Greene said. “They’re going to be a contending team this year, so it’s definitely a measuring stick.”
Left winger Andrew Mangiapane and defenseman Louis Crevier missed the game because of undisclosed injuries suffered Thursday in a 2-1 road win against the Minnesota Wild. Blashill called the injuries “certainly not long-term,” and both are expected to join the team at some point during their upcoming four-game trip.
Center Dominic Toninato was recalled from Rockford on Friday morning to make up for Magiapane’s absence. He skated for just 9:21.
Newly signed Sacha Boisvert missed the game as well as his visa paperwork has yet to be processed. The 20-year-old forward, who was the 18th pick in the 2024 draft, will aim to make his Hawks debut next week during the trip.