TAMPA, Fla. — Connor Bedard found the net from an improbable position, while Arvid Soderblom turned aside 34 shots, leading the Chicago Blackhawks to a 4-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night.
Landon Slaggert, Ryan Donato, and Teuvo Teravainen also contributed to the scoring for Chicago, marking the team’s third win in 18 attempts this season after being down at the end of the first period.
The 19-year-old Bedard, selected first overall in the 2023 draft, played a pivotal role during a power play in the second period. He maneuvered towards the bottom of the right circle, taking a shot that slipped through a narrow opening, eventually hitting the left post for his 14th goal of the season.
Tampa Bay’s goaltender Jonas Johansson made 16 saves on the night. Brayden Point managed to give the Lightning an early lead in the first period, but the team has suffered four losses in its last five outings.
Slaggert propelled the Blackhawks ahead late in the second period, with Donato extending the lead midway through the third. Teravainen sealed the game with an empty-net goal.
Takeaways from the game reveal several key points. Chicago ended its seven-game road losing streak (0-6-1) and celebrated its first victory since December 9 against the New York Rangers. Additionally, this marked just the second time in 16 encounters that the Blackhawks defeated Tampa Bay in regulation.
On the other side, Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy sat out due to illness, prompting 27-year-old emergency backup Kyle Konin to dress for his fourth career NHL game. The result halted Tampa Bay’s four-game home win streak.
A significant moment occurred when Chicago was granted a 5-on-3 power play for 1:37 but could not score until Bedard found the back of the net with just five seconds remaining in that advantage.
In terms of statistics, Tampa Bay’s performance on power plays, which saw them score three times against Chicago last Friday, declined significantly, as they went 0 for 3 on Tuesday.
Looking ahead, the Blackhawks are set to take on the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday, while the Lightning will host the Los Angeles Kings.
