3 things Jeff Blaishill ‘loved’ from the win over Zvezda
The Chicago Blackhawks they still have some catching up to do before they can become one of the best teams in the Western Conference. The young team is six points behind in the playoffs, but there are some positives to build on. They also have a built-in excuse for their recent 2-7-1 stretch due to injury to Connor Bedard. Thursday night’s win over the Dallas Stars, though the head coach was intrigued Jeff Blashill, according to a post by Ben Pope on X.
“We were really good most nights,” Blashill told reporters after the win. “I loved the speed we played. I loved how connected we were. I loved our third period.”
It’s hard not to like the win over Zvezda, who are now 20 points ahead of the Blackhawks in the standings. The old Blackhawks may have fizzled in the third period, but they built a 3-1 lead early in the frame before hanging on when the Stars scored two late goals.
The win wasn’t the prettiest, but Chicago showed how they can win in a tough conference. The the fact that they did it without their top scorer, Bedardand rising star Frank Nazar, is a great sign for the players left in the lineup.
Chicago likely won’t compete for a playoff spot this season. They probably have another year as a lottery team before they become serious playoff contenders. The growth of their current roster over the next year and the imminent arrival of top prospect Anton Frondel brings a lot of optimism.
First-year coach Blashill knows the group is building something special. With wins like Thursday night, the payoff may not be far away.
2026-01-02 10:20:00
