The Chicago Blackhawks (23-29-11) were unable to complete the sweep in the season series against the Dallas Stars (39-14-10) on Sunday, as an early 2-0 lead fizzled away en route to a 4-3 overtime loss. Oddly enough, all three meetings between the Blackhawks and Stars in 2025-26 resulted in a 4-3 final.
Goals from Tyler Bertuzzi and Sam Rinzel in the opening 8:41 had the Blackhawks off to the start that they were looking for against a formidable Stars squad that had only lost to the league-leading Colorado Avalanche since returning from the Olympic break. But after that, the offense was stymied for the rest of the night, recording just 14 shots on goal over the final 51:41, including the 22 seconds of overtime. Chicago was credited with only three high-danger scoring chances after the first period.
Thanks to Connor Bedard’s late-game-tying goal, which was the Blackhawks’ first 6-on-5 tally with the extra attacker on the ice this season, at least one point was earned on Sunday at American Airlines Center. However, the visitors couldn’t carry over the momentum from knotting up the game with 80 seconds remaining, as Miro Heiskanen potted the game-winner 22 seconds into the three-on-three period.
With how much the ice was tilted in Dallas’ favor for most of the night, especially in the final 40 minutes of regulation, coming out with one point isn’t the worst result for the Blackhawks. Although, it was admittedly difficult to look at any potential silver linings from Sunday when rookie center Oliver Moore had to exit the game early due to an injury.
Moore got hurt near the midway point of the first period, when he helped set up Rinzel’s goal by forcing a turnover with an effective forecheck. Unfortunately, Moore got tangled up with a Stars’ defender and went crashing hard into the boards behind the opposing net. The former first-round pick was slow to get back on his skates and immediately headed to the team dressing room. The Blackhawks ruled him out of the remainder of the game after the first intermission, and head coach Jeff Blashill didn’t provide much of an update, other than Moore will not be available for the back end of the back-to-back against Utah on Monday.
Here are the highlights from the Blackhawks’ 4-3 overtime loss to the Stars, dropping their record to 23-29-11 through 63 games this season.
FIRST PERIOD
Tyler Bertuzzi netted the opening goal on Sunday for his second tally since the Olympic break, deflecting Artyom Levshunov’s shot for his 27th goal of the season at 6:59. Bertuzzi is now three goals away from tying his previous career high and becoming a 30-goal scorer for the second time in his NHL career. Levshunov made a terrific play to change the angle of the shot, preventing a Stars forward from getting in the shooting lane and blocking the shot.
With the secondary assist, Frank Nazar also extended his point streak to three games.
Frank Nazar➡️Artyom Levshunov➡️Tyler Bertuzzi🚨
Bertuzzi deflects Levshunov’s for his 27th goal of the season to give the #Blackhawks a 1-0 lead! Nazar now has a point in 3 straight games.pic.twitter.com/NDT8EvY0yB
— Talkin’ Hawkey (@TalkinHawkey) March 8, 2026
Here’s the play where Moore got injured, as he wheeled into the offensive zone but couldn’t brace himself as he went tumbling down into the boards. Teuvo Teravainen scooped up the loose puck and sent a feed to Rinzel in the slot, and he fired home his third goal of the season to extend the Blackhawks lead to 2-0 at 8:41. Teravainen now has at least one point in five of six games out of the break.
Oliver Moore➡️Teuvo Teravainen➡️Sam Rinzel🚨
Moore gets in on the forecheck to force a turnover, and then Rinzel fires home his 3rd goal of the season to extend the #Blackhawks lead to 2-0!pic.twitter.com/TcpTLONpg0
— Talkin’ Hawkey (@TalkinHawkey) March 8, 2026
As the Stars started to work their way back into the game, Nathan Bastian cut the Blackhawks’ lead in half with a redirect from Lian Bischel’s shot from the blue line at 16:40. The puck changed direction a few times on its way past Arvid Soderblom.
SECOND PERIOD
Neither side found the back of the net in the second period, and it was mostly a result of Soderblom standing on his head to keep the Blackhawks ahead by one. His best sequence of the period came after a brutal giveaway by Levshunov behind the net, as he stopped two point-blank chances for the Stars as the defense was caught in scramble mode. Somehow, the 2-1 lead carried into the third period for the visitors.
THIRD PERIOD
Soderblom could only do so much, and the Stars finally tied the game 2-2 just 42 seconds into the third period. After a rare giveaway by Alex Vlasic from below the goal line, Mavrik Bourque’s backhanded shot from out in front banked in off a sliding Frank Nazar and into the net. That’s not the start the Blackhawks were looking for in the third period.
The Stars’ pressure was constant in the period, and Justin Hryckowian gave the home squad its first lead on the power play at 9:40, whacking home a loose puck in the crease at 9:40. 3-2, Dallas, following three unanswered goals.
With Soderblom off for the extra attacker, Bedard took matters into his own hands to force overtime. After a successful dump-in retrieval by the Blackhawks, the puck found its way back to Bedard at the blue line, and he fired a shot through traffic for his 26th goal of the season to tie the game 3-3 with 1:20 left on the clock. Bertuzzi and Ryan Donato provided terrific screens in front. Teravainen and Nazar each earned their second points of the game.
Frank Nazar➡️Teuvo Teravainen➡️Connor Bedard🚨
Bedard ties the game 3-3 with Soderblom off for the extra attacker with his 26th goal of the season! Nazar & Teravainen with their 2nd points of the game. #Blackhawkspic.twitter.com/AfXV1LCcLP
— Talkin’ Hawkey (@TalkinHawkey) March 9, 2026
OVERTIME
Sadly, the Blackhawks didn’t even get a chance to come out with the overtime winner on Sunday, as Heiskanen scored the game-winner only 22 seconds into the period. Heiskanen was allowed to skate right through the slot with far too much ease, deflecting Matt Duchene’s centering feed through Soderblom’s five-hole to give Dallas a 4-3 win.
For more Blackhawks news, visit Chicago Hockey Now and like our Facebook Page.
Follow us on X: