The Chicago Blackhawks suffered a disappointing 3-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks in a shootout on March 15, 2024, at the United Center. The game was marred by controversy after a crucial third-period goal by Tyler Bertuzzi was disallowed due to a referee’s call of goaltender interference. This defeat extended the Blackhawks’ losing streak against the Canucks to eleven games, with their last victory over Vancouver dating back to November 21, 2021.
In a physical contest, Blackhawks center Filip Chytil left the game early after a hit from Canucks forward Jason Dickinson and did not return. Chytil was later diagnosed with a concussion, forcing him to miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season. This was particularly unfortunate for the 26-year-old player, who had already missed significant time due to previous injuries.
The match started positively for Chicago, as they took a 2-0 lead in the first period, thanks to goals from Ryan Donato and Bertuzzi. However, the Canucks quickly responded with two goals in the second period, leveling the game with strikes from Jake Debrusk and Max Sasson.
As the third period progressed, the Blackhawks appeared poised to regain the lead when Bertuzzi scored what seemed to be the go-ahead goal. Yet, the referees waved the goal off, citing interference with Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen. Bertuzzi expressed his frustration, stating, “I think it was not that great of a call,” while Coach Jeff Blashill confirmed he would challenge the decision again if given the opportunity.
The shootout proved decisive, with the Blackhawks’ Teuvo Teräväinen, Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, and Donato unable to find the back of the net. Canucks winger Brock Boeser ultimately secured the victory by scoring in the fourth round, sealing the fate of the Blackhawks.
Despite the loss, the Blackhawks managed to maintain a strong penalty kill, successfully stopping six out of seven penalties against them. Nevertheless, the team continues to struggle with discipline, leading the league with a total of 36 penalties committed, averaging 14.3 minutes per game. Blashill acknowledged the need for improvement in this area, stating, “That’s a real issue… we need to get better at it.”
The defeat was particularly disappointing for the Blackhawks, as they faced a Canucks team that had played the previous night, winning against the Dallas Stars 5-3. Defenseman Connor Murphy emphasized the importance of capitalizing on such opportunities, saying, “To not put together enough of a push to take a team’s will away when you have them down against the ropes is a big difference in winning and losing.”
As the Blackhawks regroup, they will need to address their inconsistencies and find a way to translate leads into victories in upcoming games. The team’s ability to learn from this loss could be crucial as they look to improve their performance in the ongoing season.
