Normally, I'd wait until the afternoon to post this, just in case there's some news following morning skate. However, since I'm on vacation, I'm throwing this out there in the morning.
Obligatory moment of silence for the Bears' season coming to an end yesterday. What an incredible year.
The only Blackhawks news from the weekend was confirmation that Frank Nazar and Tuevo Teravainen will be out for tonight's game. Nazar is making a faster recovery than expected, and I think I've seen some of the beat writters say that it's possible for him to return before the Olympics.
Nazar and Teravainen are out for tomorrow vs Winnipeg
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) January 18, 2026
I get the sense Nazar might return Thursday at Carolina https://t.co/onOY9I9Brs
The Hawks need Nazar. A fully healthy Nazar. I'm not convinced that Nazar was 100% before a puck broke his jaw. But that that 21 game drought of no goals made me nervous. That's something goal scorers don't really experience.
I typed up a recap while flying at midnight over the weekend. Take that for what it's worth.
Game Recap: Bruins 5 - Blackhawks 2
As I'm typing this, I'm in the air, and I'm using this as an excuse to warm up for my other writing (I'm writing a book!). Why am I prefacing with that? Well, I don't know if I'll drop this on Monday. I'm about to hit the beaches. And this game was another flat affair that hardly deserves attention. But I spent time watching this effort in an airport. So, I'm writing about it, damn it!
The biggest thing that jumped out to me wasn't Artyom Levshunov having another rough night. He made a horribly timed pinch (with some sorry support from Connor Bedard), was brutal in his zone on the breakouts (passing to no one), and other poor decision making on his part. Those are all worth mentioning. But this team can't score. Their offense has dried up. The Hawks finished the game with a whimpy 38.47% expected goals share (5v5).
At its core, this is a roster construction issue. The young kids have hit a wall (as they will when it's about the middle of their first NHL season), and there's no supporting cast. Tyler Bertuzzi, who I've praised this season, isn't doing much with Jason Dickinson and Ilya Mikheyev. This team can't get the puck with a lone forechecker.
There really isn't a solution to this other than trying different line combinations and asking more from the players. Maybe a Nazar return gets the kids going?
Oliver Moore and Nick Lardis looked good in this one, although they didn't produce. Maybe place them in an actual top-line role with Bertuzzi? Even on a line with Bedard? Let's leave Dickinson's checking line to that of an actual third line.
Not too much to dig into this one, although it's raising some mild concerns.
Preview: Blackhawks vs. Jets
The Hawks host the Winnipeg Jets tonight at 7:30 pm CT, which means this will be Jonathan Toews' first visit to the United Center as an opponent. For Toews, it's a season that's gone about as expected. He's posted seven goals and 18 points in 47 games this season. But the Jets as a whole have struggled.
Winners of the Presidents' Trophy last season, the Jets find themselves at the bottom of the standings. With a 19-22-6 record, Winnipeg is in 31st place—just one below the Hawks.
Like I said about the last two games, this is a very winnable game for the Hawks. And they need it. They're now on a three-game losing streak and have scored two goals or fewer in three of their last four. I should note that these are obviously division rivals, but I'm not sure anyone thinks the Hawks are going to make a case for the playoffs again. Although it's still possible.
We'll see if I end up catching this one, if I do, there will be a recap out tomorrow.