Nick Lardis scored his second goal of the season in the Chicago Blackhawks’ 3-2 shootout loss to the New York Islanders on Tuesday night at the United Center. (Photo courtesy of the Chicago Blackhawks)

Coming off a 7-3 loss at home to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday night, the Chicago Blackhawks returned to the United Center on Tuesday for their final game of the 2025 calendar year against another Metropolitan Division opponent, the New York Islanders. The game marked the first opportunity for the Hawks to see this year’s first overall pick, defenseman Matthew Schaefer, who is off to a strong start with nine goals and 24 points in 39 games. Spencer Knight started in goal for the Hawks, looking to rebound from a sluggish start against the Penguins, while David Rittich was in net for the Islanders.

First period

The Islanders took an early 1-0 lead on Calum Ritchie’s fifth goal of the season. Wyatt Kaiser was surrounded by three Islanders, who forced a turnover near the blue line. Simon Holmstrom skated in alone with Ritchie, who received the pass and fired it off the shaft of Knight’s stick at 2:56.

Bo Horvat made it 2-0 with a power-play goal. Mat Barzal dished it to Horvat, who fired a wrist shot from the right circle past Knight for his 21st of the season at 12:08. The Islanders would take a 2-0 lead after one.

Second period

Teuvo Teravainen got the Hawks on the board with his seventh of the season. Artyom Levshunov, who had been putting on a skating display all game, carried the puck up the right wing boards and fed Oliver Moore in the slot, who set up Teravainen for a one-timer that he buried at 15:31 to cut the deficit to 2-1.

With the Hawks on a four-minute power play, Nick Lardis tied the game at 2-2 with his second of the season in the closing seconds of the period. Moore skated up the right wing side and found Lardis in the left circle, who fired a one-timer past Rittich at 19:57 to tie the game at 2-2 after two periods.

Third period

The Hawks nearly won it in the closing seconds when Nick Foligno missed a wide-open cage with five seconds left in regulation. After a scoreless third, the teams went to overtime

Overtime

The Hawks had a few great chances early in the extra frame but could not cash in. With a little over two minutes left, Levshunov took a tripping penalty, however, the Hawks killed it off and went to a shootout.

Shootout

Lardis, Barzal and Teravainen traded misses, then Horvat slowed up and buried a wrist shot up high. That goal would stand, as Ryan Donato was denied and the Islanders got the extra point and the 3-2 win.

Analysis

After a slow start that brought flashbacks of Sunday night’s stinker against the Penguins, the Hawks rebounded with a strong effort. They tightened up defensively in the final two periods, which allowed them to fight their way back and tie it up only to fall short in the shootout. Levshunov put on a show with his outstanding skating ability and creativity. The line of Moore between Lardis and Teravainen was excellent and accounted for both Hawks goals while generating numerous other scoring chances.

The Hawks remain home for their next contest on Thursday night against the Dallas Stars. Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m. CST on CHSN with the radio call on 720 AM WGN.

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