November 5, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard (98) collides with Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen (32) during Game 1 at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Image With the final Western Conference playoff spot slipping away, keeping the Chicago Blackhawks and Vancouver Canucks in the fight and achieving success over the final stretch of the season remains a more realistic goal.
The host Blackhawks will look to bounce back from a tough road trip on Friday night to try to hand the lowly Canucks their eighth straight loss.
Chicago needs just six more points to surpass last season’s 61-point total, but it appears they will miss the playoffs for the sixth straight year. The Blackhawks began their last five-game road trip with three straight losses before a 4-0 win at Utah on Sunday. But they blew a late one-goal lead Tuesday during a 3-2 overtime loss in Winnipeg.
The Blackhawks have a minus-11 goal differential in the third period this season. They have also lost their last six games decided by two goals or fewer.
“We definitely had a lot of close games,” Chicago coach Jeff Blashill said.
“Sometimes it’s about finding the next goal. … Finding a way to win a hockey game.”
Teuvo Teravainen has scored three of his 13 goals in Chicago’s last two games. Meanwhile, star teammate Connor Bedard had two assists Tuesday and has nine points (five goals, four assists) in his last nine contests.
Bedard has scored two points in two games against Vancouver this season. After not scoring in Chicago’s 3–2 shootout home loss on October 17, he scored with an assist in the Blackhawks’ 5–2 win in Vancouver on November 5.
Not only are these teams losing games, they’re losing veterans as general managers focus on the future at the trade deadline. Chicago is bidding farewell to defenseman Connor Murphy and signing forwards Jason Dickinson and Kolton Dah in separate deals with Edmonton this week. Meanwhile, Vancouver sent veteran defenseman Tyler Myers to Dallas on Wednesday.
The Canucks own an NHL-low 43 points, but general manager Patrik Allvin doesn’t expect his team to pull away from it.
“I’d like to see more fighting within the group,” Allvin said.
“You can lose games, but you have to play and compete the right way. That’s what I want to see from our group moving forward.”
But the Canucks fell short of an early 2-1 lead Wednesday against Carolina. They allowed four goals in the second period en route to a 6-4 loss. Vancouver has a 3-19-4 record since Dec. 22 and has allowed at least five goals in five of its last six games.
“There was an effort (Wednesday) and I was pretty happy about it,” said Vancouver defenseman Filip Hronek, who had a goal with two assists against the Hurricanes.
“We have to be consistent with this and give that effort for 60 (minutes).”
Former Blackhawk Kevin Lankinen was pulled Wednesday after allowing four goals on 22 shots. He has given up 19 goals during a four-game losing streak. Teammate Nikita Tolopilo has made at least 31 saves in three of her last four starts, but has only one win to show for it.
Chicago’s Spencer Knight has lost his fourth straight loss. He has also allowed at least three goals in eight of his last nine outings. However, in two games against Vancouver this season, he blocked 73 of the 77 shots he faced.
Backup Arvid Soderblom could return to the crease for the Blackhawks after making 22 saves Sunday against Mammoth to earn his first shutout.
Vancouver’s Marco Rossi snapped a five-game drought with a goal and an assist Wednesday. He has won three straight against Chicago.
–Field level media
