4 takeaways from the Chicago Blackhawks’ 3 0 loss, including Arvid Söderblom’s solid night and Connor Bedard’s reaction to Canada’s upset

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Injuries can’t be an excuse for the Chicago Blackhawks being deep in the dumps right now, but it can’t be completely dismissed either. Two nights after the team lost Tyler Johnson to injury and Taylor Raddysh two nights before that, the Hawks saw another forward go down. Anthony Beauvilier left Tuesday’s 3 0 loss to the Nashville Predators during the second period.

Advertisement Beauvillier had just been promoted to the top line. “It didn’t look good,” coach Luke Richardson said. “We were short staffed at the wrong time, Nick (Foligno) was in the box, as well.” Advertisement Keep in mind, there’s still no definitive timeline on Seth Jones, Joey Anderson and Andreas Athanasiou.

Does it feel like the Hawks are swimming upstream with injuries? “It’s been from before Day 1 this year,” said Richardson, whose Hawks were shutout for the first time since Oct. 24 against the Boston Bruins. “You know what? Teams go through it and if we can be strong enough and find our way through this at the toughest time, that makes you a better team.

“So we’ve got to not sit and look for someone else to do it, because it’s going to be us ourselves doing it — all 20 guys that are in the lineup every night. It doesn’t matter who it is.” “Yeah, it’s been before day one I think this year.” —Luke Richardson on the string of injuries being an uphill battle pic.twitter.com/uBBstd5DzE — Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) January 3, 2024 It’s likely the Hawks make a call to Rockford, but it’s not like the IceHogs aren’t dealing with their own bumps and bruises.

Colton Dach is in concussion protocol. The Hawks recalled forward Kyle Maksimovich from Indy Fuel Tuesday with Bryce Kindopp sidelined by a left groin strain. “We’re probably running low on contracts at this point,” Richardson quipped. “But you know what, we just got to stay positive.” These Blackhawks injuries are like the Ship of Theseus Paradox (if you replace all the planks on a ship, is it still the same ship?).

At what point do the Hawks become the Chicago IceHogs? — Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) January 3, 2024 Here are four takeaways from the loss. Advertisement 1. Arvid Söderblom didn’t have to be lights out, just steady. Or just stop the bleeding. It started with getting torched for seven goals Dec.

14 in Seattle and continued with a four goal third period Dec. 23 in St. Louis Blues (six goals against overall). He also gave up two goals in 15 minutes of relief for Petr Mrázek Sunday in Dallas. Richardson has delivered the same message throughout his slump.. “We believe in him,” he said of the goalie pregame.

“Just be big and confident and gobble up pucks around the crease, because this is a big, heavy team down low around the net. It’s another opportunity.” Things were going well Tuesday until Brett Seney was called for holding the stick and the Predators went on the game’s first power play. Gustav Nyquist scored on the unit’s first shot, roofing it over Söderblom’s glove side shoulder, a stoppable goal.

Advertisement Söderblom did yeoman’s work fending off a four shot barrage with 2 minutes left in the first. He faced six high danger chances in five on five in the opening frame, and six more through the rest of the game, according to naturalstattrick.com . Blackhawks goalie Arvid Söderblom defends against the Predators during the second period on Jan.

2, 2024. (George Walker IV/AP) He allowed another power play goal to Ryan O’Reilly in the third period and Luke Evangelista’s goal was an empty netter. “I felt good,” Söderblom said. “A little disappointed about that first goal, felt like I could have done a better job there playing the shooter.

But other than that, I felt like my game was where I want it to be. “I feel like I saw a lot of pucks, not many rebounds, some extra saves as well.” Richardson said, “I thought he was excellent tonight.” O’Reilly’s goal came on a five on three penalty kill. Advertisement “They played it down to (Filip) Forsberg and my job there is to take him as a shooter.

And then he passed it backdoor and then you have to kind of take it from there and just try to stretch over,” Söderblom said. “It was a good play by them. “But there’s always a chance, there’s no such thing as impossible stops.” However, Richardson said, “Those guys are dominant down low and that was a nice play.

I don’t think anyone is stopping that.” Of course, the Hawks would wait until Söderblom has one of his best performances in net to have their sticks go cold. Nikita Zaitsev said, “Would love to win, especially for him — he did lots of crazy saves today. Unfortunately we didn’t, but still it’s a good game.” Asked if he was frustrated by the lack of goal support, Söderblom said, “Both yes and no.” Advertisement “There’s nothing I can do about it,” he said.

“My job is to stop the puck, not scoring. But of course, it’s frustrating at times to play good but not get the results.” Frustrating when you have a good game but don’t get goal support? Arvid Soderblom: “Both yes and no. There's nothing I can do about it. My job is to stop the puck, not scoring.

But of course, it's frustrating at times to play good but not get the results.” pic.twitter.com/ove2gEwwfT — Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) January 3, 2024 2. Oh, Canada: Upset weighs heavy on Connor Bedard. Bedard led the Canadian team to gold at last year’s World Juniors, so it was particularly painful to watch Czechia upset Canada 3 2 in the quarterfinals Tuesday.

“I know a lot of guys on the team and being a Canadian, I take a lot of pride in that, so I feel really bad for them,” said Bedard, who was named NHL Rookie of the Month for December. “It sucks for sure.” [ [Don't miss] World Juniors bragging rights at stake in Chicago Blackhawks locker room: ‘We always got chirping going on’ ] It’s even worse for Bedard that he has to share a locker room with Mrázek, who was gloating just a bit after morning skate.

“Pretty insufferable,” Bedard said with a smile when asked about the Hawks goalie. “I mean, I’d be the same if Canada were to win. “I just feel bad for those guys on that team and how hard they played, and it’s a dream come true to get to play in that tournament. And a lot of guys are obviously aging out next year, so that sucks.

But they give it their all.” Advertisement “Pretty tough. I’d be the same if Canada were to win.” —Connor Bedard on getting grief from Petr Mrazek after Canada lost to Czechia in the World Juniors pic.twitter.com/XHvEnZwv0D — Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) January 2, 2024 Asked if he felt compelled to console Bedard, his fellow Canadian, Richardson said, “No, I stayed out of that.

“Petr’s having some fun with that today. As you heard him in the background here, he’s collecting all his money from his bets. I think he was mad that one of the young guys has never used an ATM before, so he was trying to give instructions on that so now he can get his money.” Did you have to console Connor Bedard about Canada losing to Czechia in the World Juniors? Luke Richardson: “No, I stayed out of that.

Petr’s having some fun with that today. As you heard in the background, he’s collecting all his money from his bets.” pic.twitter.com/zONnHO52w9 — Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) January 2, 2024 3. The Hawks didn’t get a long look at Anthony Beauvillier on the top line. The Hawks rolled with the same lineup change they worked on during Monday’s practice.

Coaches tried out Ryan Donato and Nick Foligno with Bedard and Kurashev in the past. The Foligno combination has produced eight goals, but given up 14 at even strength (168 1/2 minutes), according to NaturalStatTrick.com . The Donato combination has produced three goals and allowed four. One key difference with Donato is the line’s shooting percentage is 58% versus 40% with Foligno.

On Monday, Richardson called Donato “tenacious,” but he added playing 200 feet “is not the strong suit of his game. He’s in the NHL, everybody can skate, but the pace is not at the level.” Advertisement However, speed is an element Beauvillier brings. “He was skating really well the last two games,” Richardson said pregame, “and he’s got a good, defensive conscience as well.

He reloads really well. “He got a few pucks back last game because of that, so hopefully, that can feed into that line having more puck possession. He’s played a little bit with them already.” Before the game, Bedard said Beauvillier’s “super fast, super skilled.” “I haven’t played with him too much, but the few times I have it’s a lot of fun having that speed and skill and creativity that he has.” Unfortunately for Beauvillier, the main highlight he produced was when he lost a skate blade during the middle of the second and had to push off on one leg to grab some bench — literally.

Advertisement Anthony Beauvillier loses a skate blade, and Louis Crevier has to push him to the bench #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/iSj46b6wvw — Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) January 3, 2024 Beauviller left the game at that point. He sustained an upper body injury, Richardson said. “We’ll have to get it reevaluated and examined more thoroughly tomorrow and see where he’s at,” he said.

“He’ll be coming with us” to New York. 4. The Hawks had battle drills — did it work? After getting hammered 8 1 Sunday in Dallas, you knew Monday’s practice would have some form of physicality slash punishment, so they did battle drills, particularly working in the low slot. Chicago Tribune Sports Weekdays A daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.

By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy . > Seney didn’t have anything to do with that debacle, but he got called up from Rockford just in time for practice. “It was a good skate, good battle day and it felt good to be out there with the guys,” he said.

“It was a little tiring, but that’s part of it.” It beats a bag skate. Advertisement Bedard said, “We got smacked around on New Year’s Eve against Dallas, so it’s something we needed for sure.” So did Richardson get more fight this time around? “I thought the guys battled,” he said.

“It was the first step of where we want to go. We don’t like the results, we can’t accept them in this league, but the coaching staff was proud of how we asked them to battle yesterday in practice and bring it to tonight’s game. “Unfortunately, we didn’t get any luck around their net. But the process of how we want to play was there.”.