Chicago Blackhawks six-game road trip observations: A comprehensive look at a testing six-game trip

The Chicago Blackhawks embarked on one of their most challenging tests of the 2025-26 season: a six-game, 12-day road trip through Western Canada and the United States that would serve as a litmus test for their surprising start. After beginning the season with a 5-3-2 record that exceeded expectations, the young squad faced a gauntlet that included matchups against Jonathan Toews’ Jets, Connor McDavid’s Oilers, and former teammates in Detroit.

What transpired over those 12 days provided plenty of material for analysis. The Blackhawks emerged with a 3-2-1 record, salvaging what started as a disastrous 0-2-1 stretch with three consecutive victories to close the trip. From defensive breakdowns in Winnipeg to Tyler Bertuzzi’s heroics in Vancouver, the road trip offered a comprehensive look at where this rebuilding team stands and what obstacles still lie ahead.

Chicago Blackhawks six-game road trip observations: Connor Bedard’s offensive explosion

The most glaring takeaway from the road trip was Connor Bedard’s ascension into elite NHL company. The 19-year-old phenom recorded 13 points across the six games, extending his point streak to eight games and climbing to second in the league scoring race with 25 points in just 16 games. His performance wasn’t just statistically impressive—it demonstrated a maturity and consistency that belied his age.

Bedard reached the 150-career point milestone during the Calgary game on November 7, surpassing Eddie Olczyk as the youngest Blackhawks player to achieve that feat. He now sits tied with Bobby Hull for fourth-most points by a Chicago player before age 21, trailing only Olczyk’s 180. Only two games on the entire trip saw Bedard fail to register multiple points, and his ability to impact games in various ways—whether through his lethal shot, playmaking vision, or defensive commitment—proved he’s evolved beyond being merely a goal scorer.

“He’s a really smart player,” goaltender Spencer Knight said after the Calgary shutout victory. “I think everyone sees his shot and the skill, but he’s a very intelligent player. The way he thinks the game, his vision, I think, is a very underrated aspect of his game.”

Perhaps most impressive was Bedard’s scoring diversity during the trip. He tallied goals at even strength, on the power play, and into empty nets. He created opportunities for teammates while simultaneously finishing plays himself. His chemistry with Tyler Bertuzzi on the power play became particularly lethal, with both players recording five power-play points over the final five games. Against Detroit in the trip finale, Bedard contributed a goal and two assists in the 5-1 rout, capping off what can only be described as a superstar-level stretch of hockey.

The Blackhawks led in nearly every meaningful metric when Bedard was on the ice during the trip. Against Winnipeg, despite the 6-3 loss, Chicago held advantages of 22-10 in shot attempts, 12-4 in scoring chances, and 6-2 in high-danger chances with their franchise center skating. This statistical dominance translated into victories once the team found its footing after the rocky start.

Chicago Blackhawks six-game road trip observations: defensive growing pains in the early games

The trip began ominously with a 6-3 defeat to Winnipeg, where the Blackhawks’ young defensive core was thoroughly exposed. The Jets’ top line of Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, and Gabriel Vilardi combined for four goals and nine points, exploiting defensive breakdowns and capitalizing on structural mistakes that plagued Chicago throughout the opening frame of the journey.

Alex Vlasic, typically one of Chicago’s more reliable defensemen, endured a particularly difficult night against his hometown Jets. He was on the ice for four Winnipeg goals and made several errant passes in the defensive zone that led directly to scoring chances. While he salvaged some dignity by scoring his first goal of the season in the third period, the game exposed how much development remains for Chicago’s blue line.

The defensive struggles continued in Edmonton, where the Oilers claimed a 3-2 overtime victory on Evan Bouchard’s winner. Seattle then handed Chicago their third consecutive defeat, a 3-1 loss that pushed the Blackhawks’ record on the trip to an ugly 0-2-1. Through those first three games, the team’s second-period woes became particularly pronounced—a trend that had emerged in previous contests against Vancouver and Los Angeles earlier in the season.

Coach Jeff Blashill rolled with an 11-forward, 7-defenseman lineup for much of the trip, partly by necessity after Jason Dickinson was placed on injured reserve. The defensive corps needed to adapt to increased ice time and responsibility, and the adjustment period proved painful. Breakdowns occurred too frequently, passes went astray under pressure, and positioning errors created odd-man rushes that more experienced teams exploited ruthlessly.

The Blackhawks were consistently outshot in the losing games, including a staggering 45-28 deficit against Vancouver that somehow resulted in a victory. According to The Hockey Writers, Chicago was even more dominated in Detroit, being outshot 46-20 despite claiming a 5-1 triumph. These possession disparities highlighted that while the defensive structure improved as the trip progressed, significant work remains before this unit can be considered playoff-caliber.

Chicago Blackhawks six-game road trip observations: goaltending as the backbone

If the Blackhawks’ road trip had a single hero, it was their tandem of Spencer Knight and Arvid Söderblom. The goaltenders combined to give Chicago a chance to win every night, even when the team in front of them struggled to generate offense or maintain defensive structure. Knight’s .921 save percentage across four appearances kept games competitive, while Söderblom was spectacular in his two outings.

Knight’s performance against Calgary on November 7 stood out as the defining moment of the goaltending excellence. He stopped all 33 shots he faced for his first shutout of the season, backstopping the Blackhawks to a 4-0 victory that ignited the three-game winning streak to close the trip. His .926 save percentage for the season ranks fourth in the NHL, an astounding figure for a goaltender on a rebuilding team that frequently allows high-quality scoring chances.

Against Vancouver, Knight made 43 saves in a 5-2 victory, keeping the Blackhawks within striking distance despite being thoroughly outplayed through the first two periods. The Canucks had doubled Chicago’s chances and appeared poised for victory before Bertuzzi’s third-period explosion. “Knight kept us in it like he always does and gave us a chance in the third to come out and put our foot down and put some in the net,” Bertuzzi said after the game.

Söderblom’s contributions proved equally vital. In the trip finale against Detroit, he stopped 45 of 46 shots for a .978 save percentage in the 5-1 win. His performance allowed the Blackhawks to overcome being thoroughly outshot and outchanced, executing on their limited opportunities while he stonewalled the Red Wings’ offensive attack. The Swedish netminder has appeared in only five games but owns impressive statistics that suggest Chicago has found legitimate depth in net.

The Blackhawks’ 2.50 goals-against average ranks tied for second in the NHL—a remarkable achievement for a team expected to struggle defensively. Both Knight and Söderblom had “down” performances during the trip (Knight against Winnipeg, Söderblom in limited action against Edmonton), but both bounced back emphatically. Their resilience and consistency have transformed from pleasant surprises into genuine strengths that give Chicago confidence in any matchup.

Chicago Blackhawks six-game road trip observations: special teams transformation

Perhaps no aspect of the Blackhawks’ game improved more dramatically during the road trip than their special teams play. After operating at a mediocre 16.7% in October—ninth-worst in the NHL—Chicago’s power play surged to 25.5%, seventh-best league-wide. The transformation coincided with personnel adjustments and renewed confidence that manifested in three consecutive games with power-play goals.

The Detroit game crystallized this improvement, as the Blackhawks went 3-for-3 on the power play in the 5-1 victory. The unit featuring Bedard, Bertuzzi, and rookie defenseman Artyom Levshunov clicked with precision, executing crisp passes and capitalizing on Detroit’s penalty kill mistakes. Levshunov, in particular, emerged as a revelation, collecting four power-play points over the final three games of the trip while quarterbacking the top unit.

“Confidence is a huge factor in life, and especially special teams, and I think right now, the power play is obviously feeling it,” Blashill said after the Detroit triumph. The connection between Bedard and Bertuzzi became the focal point of the man-advantage attack, with Bertuzzi parking himself at the back post to redirect Bedard’s feeds. This simple but effective strategy proved nearly unstoppable, as defensively-focused teams struggled to cover both Bedard’s shot and Bertuzzi’s positioning simultaneously.

Andre Burakovsky’s promotion to the first power-play unit added another dimension. His between-the-legs goal against Winnipeg demonstrated the skill level available throughout Chicago’s forward corps. Frank Nazar contributed before injury sidelined him, and the depth of offensive weapons gave the power play multiple threats that prevented opponents from solely keying on Bedard.

The penalty kill also deserves recognition, particularly in the Detroit game where Chicago went 5-for-5 while shorthanded. According to Chicago Hockey Now, the Blackhawks’ ability to win games through special teams excellence—even when being outshot significantly at even strength—revealed a team learning how to manufacture victories through opportunistic play rather than dominating possession.

Chicago Blackhawks six-game road trip observations: veteran leadership and resilience

The road trip’s narrative arc—from 0-2-1 disaster to finishing with three straight wins—spoke volumes about the Blackhawks’ character and veteran leadership. After absorbing losses to Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Seattle, the team could have fractured or lost confidence. Instead, they rallied behind contributions from experienced players and demonstrated the resilience that defines successful NHL teams.

Tyler Bertuzzi emerged as the trip’s most consistent veteran performer, recording eight points including two hat tricks against Vancouver and Calgary. His first hat trick came entirely in the third period against the Canucks, breaking open a game that appeared destined for another Chicago defeat. Bertuzzi became the seventh Blackhawks player in 30 years to score a hat trick in a single period and the sixth player in NHL history to accomplish the feat for three Original Six franchises.

Nick Foligno’s presence on the power play and in the offensive zone provided screening and net-front work that created space for skilled players. Matt Grzelcyk delivered timely assists, including the backdoor feed that initiated Bertuzzi’s explosion against Vancouver. These veterans understood how to navigate the emotional turbulence of extended road trips and helped younger players maintain focus through adversity.

“We’re playing for each other. We’re playing to win. We’re not playing for ourselves. We’re playing for the guy next to us, and I think when everybody does that, it goes a long way,” Söderblom said after the Detroit victory. “We’re competing and we’re finding ways to win, whether it’s through special teams or five-on-five. I feel like we’re finding ways to win, and that’s what a good team does.”

This collective mindset—forged through three consecutive losses to start the trip—manifested in various ways. Against Calgary, the Blackhawks delivered a complete performance with contributions across all four lines. In Vancouver, they weathered 45 shots and found a way to explode offensively in the third period. Against Detroit, they overcame a 46-20 shot deficit through goaltending excellence and special teams execution. These aren’t characteristics of teams that quit when adversity strikes; they’re hallmarks of resilient groups that believe in their ability to win regardless of circumstances.

Chicago Blackhawks six-game road trip observations: injury challenges and roster depth

The road trip tested Chicago’s organizational depth in ways the coaching staff hadn’t anticipated. Jason Dickinson, the team’s best faceoff man and a defensive stalwart, was placed on injured reserve early in the journey after exiting early for the third time in 11 games. His absence forced lineup adjustments that rippled throughout the forward group.

Oliver Moore was recalled from the Rockford IceHogs on November 3 and contributed two points in four games, providing energy and speed that helped compensate for Dickinson’s loss. Ryan Greene stepped into an elevated role on the top line alongside Bedard, and after a shaky debut against Ottawa, he rebounded impressively. Against Winnipeg, Greene registered a plus-two rating (the only Blackhawks skater to finish in positive territory), won six of nine faceoffs, and played a season-high 19:24. He rang the post in the third period and was stopped on a breakaway in the first, nearly turning in a multi-point performance.

“Admittedly, I didn’t fancy Blashill’s decision to roll Greene back out with the top line, but he sure proved me wrong on Thursday,” one observer noted after the Winnipeg game. Greene continued earning ice time throughout the trip, demonstrating that depth players can rise to challenges when given opportunities and confidence.

Frank Nazar’s injury during the Calgary game created another hole in the lineup for the Detroit finale. Despite missing key contributors, the Blackhawks found ways to generate offense and maintain competitive play. The 11-forward, 7-defenseman configuration forced defensemen to adapt to increased responsibilities, accelerating their development through trial by fire.

Ilya Mikheyev returned from injury during the trip and immediately made an impact, scoring against Vancouver in the third-period explosion. His defensive abilities and speed provided another dimension to Chicago’s lineup, creating matchup advantages that Blashill exploited during the winning streak. The ability to cycle healthy players back into the lineup while maintaining performance standards suggested organizational depth that exceeded preseason expectations.

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The Chicago Blackhawks returned home from their six-game road trip having learned valuable lessons about their identity and capabilities. The 3-2-1 record exceeded what many observers expected from such a young team facing a brutal schedule, and the manner in which they finished—three consecutive victories after an 0-2-1 start—demonstrated character that can’t be taught.

Connor Bedard’s continued evolution into an elite NHL center provides the foundation for everything Chicago hopes to accomplish. His 25 points in 16 games place him among the league’s scoring leaders and validate the franchise’s patient rebuild. Surrounding him with complementary players like Bertuzzi, veterans who understand how to win, and emerging talents like Levshunov creates an environment where success becomes increasingly sustainable rather than merely occasional.

The goaltending tandem of Knight and Söderblom has transformed from a question mark into a genuine strength. Their combined ability to steal games and give the team chances to win even when outplayed cannot be overstated. Special teams improvements—particularly the power play’s surge to seventh in the NHL—provide another avenue for manufacturing victories when even-strength play falters.

Challenges remain, of course. The defensive corps still experiences too many breakdowns, and Chicago continues to get outshot regularly at even strength. Second periods remain problematic, and injuries to key players like Dickinson create lineup holes that test organizational depth. But the Blackhawks have now proven they can win games in multiple ways: through goaltending, special teams, offensive explosions, and resilient responses to adversity.

As Chicago begins a nine-game stretch with eight contests at home, they carry momentum and confidence earned through adversity. The road trip served its purpose as a measuring stick, revealing that while this rebuilding project still has miles to travel, the foundation is stronger than expected. For a franchise that has endured difficult seasons in recent years, that’s more than enough to provide genuine optimism moving forward.