When writing a script for a national event like a Winter Classic, you’ve got the Smashing Pumpkins cranking out “Tonight, Tonight” as the teams come out, Jim Cornelison crushes the national anthem with a flyover and three Blackhawks hall of famers come out to drop the puck. And… then the Blackhawks gave up a power play goal less than two minutes into the game. The Blues scored a second power play goal six minutes later and things didn’t feel so great. But a power play goal for the Blackhawks got them on the board. Because nobody wanted to kill a penalty apparently.
So, after allowing two power play goals in the first period, ideally you don’t go to the box… 58 seconds into the second period. Right? The best scoring chance on the power play came from a short-handed Jason Dickinson. The Hawks were able to kill the penalty but went down two on an absolute bomb from Justin Faulk in the middle of the period. And then the wheels were completely off.
If you blamed Luke Richardson for the start of the season… I’m sorry. The head coach wasn’t the problem. The last three games have made that painfully obvious.
Star 1: Taylor Hall
Hall showed up tonight. Kudos to him because almost the entire rest of the roster was taking in a beautiful game under the lights at Wrigley Field while the Blues scored goals against them.
#Blackhawks power play goal in the Winter Classic! ? Taylor Hall? Ryan Donato pic.twitter.com/lMGBFnyjmC
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) December 31, 2024Star 2: Jason Dickinson
Dickinson won 5 of 7 faceoffs in the first period; the rest of the Blackhawks won 2 of 10. Dickinson was also on the ice for 1:51 of his 6:38 short-handed. By the end of the second period, Dickinson had won 13 of 17 faceoffs and put three shots on net. The rest of the Blackhawks were collectively 4 of 23 at the dot.
Star 3: Nick Foligno
WE GOT AN OUTDOOR TILLY BETWEEN NICK FOLIGNO AND BRAYDEN SCHENN ? pic.twitter.com/b24QdbHNyW
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) January 1, 2025Key Takeaways
Here’s Tyler Bertuzzi‘s goal from the third period (assist to Connor Bedard to give him one more point in December, which is nice):Bedard ➡️ Jones ➡️ Tyler Bertuzzi for a power play goal in the third!#Blackhawks | #WinterClassic pic.twitter.com/fmhGT5dOMF
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) January 1, 2025 Ryan Donato showed up tonight, too. Full marks to him. At the end of the second period he had three shots on goal and a team-high four hits. Seth Jones was on the ice for both of the power play goals against in the first period. He then completely ignored his guy, Dylan Holloway, on the back door for the Blues’ fourth goal. If this was still the 2022-23 season and I was naming the worst performances as my three stars because the Blackhawks were tanking to get Bedard in the draft, he would have run away with the top spot. He was atrocious tonight. This came from Ben Pope before the third period began:I'm a Seth Jones defender, but there's no denying he has really struggled since returning from injury. His expected-goals ratio in each game:Calgary: 56.2%Minnesota: 20.8%Buffalo: 30.6%Dallas: 38.8%Tonight: 23.9% so far
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) January 1, 2025 Both penalties on the Blackhawks in the first period were on rookie defensemen: Louis Crevier and Nolan Allan. Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Blackhawks 2, Blues 6 — Three Stars, Key Takeaways )
Also on site :