Teuvo Teravainen scores in his return to the lineup. Chicago has now dropped four straight, with two of those coming in the shootout.

First Period: 

Connor Bedard got the Chicago Blackhawks started off hot. Just one minute into the contest, Connor Bedard created a great chance for himself. While the shot didn’t go in, the resulting possession ended with Teuvo Teravainen recording a goal in his return to the lineup.

Chicago kept the pressure on Minnesota with Nick Foligno’s line getting dominant zone time. Minnesota had a good chance coming the other way after Connor Murphy failed on his risky pinch. Soon after, the delivery man, Ryan Donato, got on the board for Chicago with a thunderous slap shot. The goal ended the 11-game goal-scoring drought for Donato. Chicago’s new look power-play had good opportunities but couldn’t get a goal. Before the period concluded, Brock Faber was able to get a final chance off as time expired.

Second Period:

Chicago kept rolling in the second period. About four minutes into the middle frame, Alex Vlasic launched a breakout pass up to Ilya Mikheyev. Mikheyev fired a shot past the glove side of Jesper Wallstedt to increase the advantage to three for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Story continues below.

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Matt Grzelcyk had a opportunity from in the slot but opted for a failed pass to Bedard. At around this point, the ice started to tilt back to the Wild’s side. Jesper Wallstedt came up huge, robbing Connor Bedard by the blade of his skate. Shortly after, the trio of Wyatt Kaiser, Ryan Greene, and Oliver Moore would have their chances on a vulnerable Wallstedt denied. These failed chances proved to be deadly. Yakov Trenin trimmed the lead down to two off a rush chance.

Connor Murphy was just another Blackhawks player who had a great chance, but he hit the post with his shot. Chicago went into the final frame, up two, with a man advantage off a Jared Spurgeon penalty.

Third Period: 

Chicago started off on the powerplay and the Hawks snuck up on Brock Faber behind the net, getting a good chance on goal. Just minutes later, Quinn Hughes made an amazing play, dancing along the blue line and getting a shot off. In front, Joel Eriksson Ek put home the rebound to cut the deficit to one for Minnesota.

Minnesota’s deadly power play had a chance to tie it, but the number one-ranked penalty kill of Chicago shut down the Wild power play. This included a cross-crease save by Spencer Knight on his former teammate, Vladimir Tarasenko.

Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar connected again for a great chance, which was once again turned away by Jesper Wallstedt, who looked like a completely different goalie to end the game. After another power play chance was squandered, Minnesota flew back down the ice and evened the game with under two minutes left. Just like that, a 3-0 lead turned into a overtime dogfight. 

Overtime/Shootout 

In overtime, Marcus Johansson had Minnesota’s best chance of the night. With just under two minutes left in overtime, Matthew Boldy committed a tripping call that should’ve left Chicago with a chance to ice the game. But this Chicago team couldn’t finish off the game.

In the shootout, only Kirill Kaprizov recorded a goal. The Minnesota Wild stormed back to beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3, after being down 3-0.

The Cowboy Round-Up and What’s On Tap 

17-0-1, seventeen, zero, and one. That is the record of the Chicago Blackhawks against the Minnesota Wild in the last 18 games. Let that stat sick in for a little bit. The last time a Chicago Blackhawks team defeated the Minnesota Wild in regulation? December 15, 2019. Patrick Kane recorded a hat trick that game. Robin Lehner was in the net for the win. And the ONLY player from the team then to the team now is Connor Murphy. 

That’s just what happens when a young team doesn’t have killer instinct. When given five power plays, in a game where you are winning 3-0, you have to capitalize. When you have 115 seconds of power play time in overtime, its inexcusable not to convert.

The new power play looked better, but the results were the same. Zeros across the board. The good news is that the new line combo of “Bedzar” looked great. Apart from that, this team needs a killer instinct, and tonight will be a foundational reminder of that. 

On Tap next for the Blackhawks is a matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena. Puck drop at 6 p.m. CT on Thursday night.