The Chicago Blackhawks rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to earn a point but couldn’t complete the comeback against the New York Islanders at the United Center. Bo Horvat scored the shootout winner to lift the Islanders to a 3-2 win in Chicago’s final game of the 2025 calendar year on Tuesday night.
Another sluggish start from the Blackhawks proved to be costly, as they surrendered two goals in the opening 12:08 to fall into an early hole. Calum Ritchie kicked off the scoring for the Islanders less than three minutes in, then Horvat doubled their lead on the power play just past the midway point. In their last two games, the Blackhawks have allowed six goals in the first period. Head coach Jeff Blashill wasn’t pleased whatsoever with his team’s effort in the opening stages on Tuesday.
“For me, that was as poor of a start as we’ve had,” Blashill said. “I know other nights we got scored on more, but I thought [in terms of] our heads being in it, I didn’t think we were where we needed to be with the mental focus for that first 10 minutes. To me, you kind of let it slip away because you’re not prepared to play great hockey for 60 minutes.”
The Blackhawks responded to the early adversity in the second period to get themselves back into the game, and it was a slew of rookies who led the comeback effort. Oliver Moore, Nick Lardis, Artyom Levshunov, and Ryan Greene, all first-year players, recorded a point in the period to help tie the game 2-2.
For Moore, Tuesday was the first time he played the center position for the Blackhawks this season, and he looked plenty comfortable with the change. Moore had arguably his best game as an NHLer against the Islanders, with a pair of primary assists on goals from his linemates, Lardis and Teuvo Teravainen. He tallied more points in the second period than he did in his previous 11 games combined. It was also his first multi-point performance since Nov. 18 in a 5-2 win over the Calgary Flames.
Blashill agreed that Moore looked more confident than ever while getting his first look down the middle against New York.
“That was the best game [Oliver] has played, for sure, hands down. Was it because we moved him to center? Maybe. He looked like a real confident, almost different player out there to me. With his speed in the middle, he’s had a hard time on the wing finding how to use the speed, when to slow down and then hit the hole with speed. At center it’s a little bit easier, it’s a little bit more natural to him… I thought he did a really good job overall.”
Levshunov also had one of his best games as a pro, as he made several terrific plays in the offensive zone to create scoring chances for he and his teammates. The 2024 No. 2 overall selection finished with one assist in a team-high 22:43 of ice time. But he easily could have had a two or three-point game, with two shots beating Islanders goaltender David Rittich, only to ring off the post and go out of play. Levshunov continues to have miserable puck luck, and he’s drew iron five times now in 37 games. He’s still stuck on one goal for the season.
“That’s probably the best game I’ve seen Arty play, certainly offensively, the level of involvement. He was in on the attack a ton, made a ton of plays… we want to push him to attack the game more and he certainly did that tonight.”
Just like Moore and Levshunov, Lardis was more noticeable than ever on Tuesday, recording his second NHL goal and firing a team-leading five shots on goal in 15:12 of ice time. He also led the Blackhawks with eight shot attempts and five individual scoring chances. Lardis’ showed off his goal-scoring prowess with a beautiful one-timer to tie the score 2-2 with 1.7 seconds remaining in the second period. His confidence seems to be growing with each passing game, and the team could certainly use his offensive abilities with Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar out with injuries.
Despite some remarkable showing from the rookies, the Blackhawks didn’t do enough to earn a second win in three games coming out of the Christmas break. There were plenty of chances to get it done, including captain Nick Foligno hitting the post with a yawning cage in the final seconds of regulation. But the Islanders held off the late push and grinded out an extra-time victory, with Rittich stopping all three attempts from Chicago in the shootout.
Here are the highlights from a crushing shootout defeat to the Islanders, which drops the Blackhawks’ record to 14-18-7 through 39 games this season.
FIRST PERIOD
The Blackhawks were sloppy defensively right from the jump on Tuesday. Alex Vlasic committed a brutal giveaway in the opening seconds to gift Horvat a prime-time scoring chance, but Spencer Knight stuck out his pad and just got enough of the shot to steer it wide.
But just a couple of minutes later, Chicago’s carelessness with the puck came back to bite them. Wyatt Kaiser had his stick lifted by Simon Holmstrom, leading to a turnover. Holmstrom then set up Ritchie for his fifth goal of the season to put the Islanders ahead 1-0.
Andre Burakovsky was whistled for holding just over 11 minutes in, sending the Blackhawks penalty kill out onto the ice for the first time. While Chicago’s PK ranked fourth in the league entering Tuesday, they’ve been dealing with some recent struggles, giving up a goal in four of the last six games.
Those issues continued early in the Islanders first power play, as Mathew Barzal found Horvat in the high slot to double the visitors lead. It’s Horvat’s team-leading 21st goal of the season. Matthew Schaefer tallied the secondary assist, giving 25 points through his opening 40 NHL contests. He’s now the youngest defensemen in NHL history to reach 25 points at 18 years, 116 days old.
The Blackhawks started to pick up their play as the period went along. Over the final four minutes, they hit the crossbar twice and were credited with four scoring chances. Their best look came from Artyom Levshunov after he joined the rush, as he skated into the slot and patiently outwaited Rittich to get him down and out. Unfortunately, Levshunov’s shot drew iron and flung into the crowd.
The Islanders held onto their two-goal advantage going into the intermission and led 10-7 in shots on goal and 13-10 in scoring chances.
SECOND PERIOD
After a rather entertaining and fast-paced first period, most of the second period was anything but. It felt much more like the Islanders style of hockey from the last few years — not a whole lot going on. The two sides combined for only 12 shots on goal, along with just three high-danger scoring chances at even strength in the frame.
One of the few exciting moments of in the opening 15 minutes of the period came from Levshunov, who was very active offensively throughout the night. The 2024 No. 2 overall pick stick-handled through a few Islanders defenders, held onto possession while perusing the blue line, and then nearly found Landon Slaggert at the far post.
With under five minutes to play in the period, the fans on hand at the United Center finally had something to get excited about. Levshunov took the puck to a dangerous area and found Moore on his right-hand side. Moore quickly shipped a pass to Teravainen for a one-timer to cut the Islanders lead in half. It’s Teravainen’s first goal since Nov. 28, snapping a 13-game goal drought.
Artyom Levshunov➡️Oliver Moore➡️Teuvo Teravainen🚨
Levshunov & Moore make great passes that leads to Teravainen’s 7th goal of the season! #Blackhawks cut their deficit to 2-1. It’s Teuvo’s first goal since Nov. 28, snapping an 13-game goal drought.pic.twitter.com/g4L6cM0BLL
— Talkin’ Hawkey (@TalkinHawkey) December 31, 2025
Just over one minute later, Horvat was called for a double-minor high-sticking penalty on Foligno for some captain-on-captain misconduct. During the four-minute man advantage, the Blackhawks’ second unit tied the game 2-2 just before the intermission.
Moore earned his second assist of the period by feeding Lardis for a one-timer with 1.7 seconds to go. It’s Lardis’ second NHL goal and first career power-play tally. Greene picked up the secondary assist on the play, becoming the fourth Blackhawks’ rookie to register a point on the night.
Oliver Moore➡️Nick Lardis🚨
Two #Blackhawks rookies connect for the tying goal with 1.7 seconds left in the 2nd period. It’s Lardis’ 2nd NHL goal & Moore’s 2nd assist of the night. Ya LOVE to see it. 2-2 with 20 minutes to play.pic.twitter.com/ocWb0yI9Yu
— Talkin’ Hawkey (@TalkinHawkey) December 31, 2025
After a quiet offensive performance through 35 minutes, the score was suddenly tied 2-2 with 20 minutes left. Chicago led 35-28 in shot attempts and 15-14 in shots on goal after two periods.
THIRD PERIOD
With the score level to start the third period, the intensity was ratcheted up in the first few minutes. Both teams were starting to be more physical, and that led to a big skirmish ensuing after Knight made a save just past the seven-minute mark.
With eight minutes remaining, Levshunov nearly put the Blackhawks ahead with a third unanswered goal, but his shot rang off the post and out. That was Levshunov’s second post/crossbar hit in the game and sixth (!) of the season. It’s incredibly unfortunate that he still only has one goal in 37 games.
Drawing iron was a common theme for the Blackhawks on Tuesday. In the dwindling seconds of regulation, Foligno hit the post with an open net that would have sealed the victory. Unreal puck luck against the home side.
The two teams stayed deadlocked through 60 minutes, so overtime was required to determine a winner in Chicago’s final game of 2025.
Overtime
The only mistake Levshunov made in Tuesday’s game was taking a tripping penalty with 2:17 left in overtime. Chicago’s penalty kill hit the ice for a make-or-break shorthanded situation.
Thanks to some remarkable work from Connor Murphy, Vlasic, Teravainen, the Blackhawks held the Islanders power play to only one shot on goal and killed off Levshunov’s infraction.
The game was still tied 2-2 after five extra minutes. It was shootout time in Chicago on New Year’s Eve Eve.
Shootout
Only one of five shooters in the shootout found the back of the net, and it was Horvat, who beat Knight earlier in the game. That put the Islanders ahead 1-0 through two rounds.
Ryan Donato stepped onto the ice needing to score to extend the shootout, but his stuff shot was stopped by Rittich to give the Islanders the 3-2 victory.
The Blackhawks rallied from down 2-0 to pick up a point, but it’s still a crushing way to end the calendar year. Chicago returns to action next on Thursday against the Dallas Stars at the United Center.
For more Blackhawks news, visit Chicago Hockey Now and like our Facebook Page.
Follow us on X: