The Chicago Blackhawks came into their third preseason game swapping lineups back and forth in the first two games, from the veteran-heavy lineup of game one to the young guns lineup in game two. For game three against the Detroit Red Wings, it was a combination of both.
this game is only practice 👍 pic.twitter.com/S5q0iAu3jx
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 2, 2023
As soon as this game started though, things did not go according to plan for the Blackhawks. After an extended period of being stuck in their own end for the first three minutes of the game, Daniel Sprong put one past the pad of Jaxson Stauber to make it 1–0 Red Wings.
The Blackhawks would get a few shots on goal themselves after that, but the Red Wings showed them that they mean business, putting on a passing clinic before getting the puck in between the circles to Michael Rasmussen, who put Detroit up 2–0.
In the second, it did not get any better for the Blackhawks. The tallest man on the ice, Elmer Soderblom, ripped a shot from right in between the circles to make the score 3–0 Red Wings. Just a couple of minutes later, it was Antti Tuomisto who one-timed the puck from the point past Stauber, making the gap widen to 4–0.
Looking like he set up shop for the night in his office, Rasmussen potted his second of the night on a behind the net feed from J.T. Compher from the same spot as he scored the first time, 5–0 Detroit.
this game is only practice 👍 pic.twitter.com/S5q0iAu3jx
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 2, 2023
In the third, the Blackhawks finally managed to put one past James Reimer. Louis Crevier wristed one over the blocker of Reimer, cutting the margin to 5–1 Detroit. With a five-minute power play, the Red Wings would convert, with Rasmussen getting the puck to Compher this time, 6–1 Red Wings, which ended up being the final.
Analysis
The Blackhawks did not look good in this game. They allowed the Red Wings to pass the puck wherever they wanted with no repercussions, allowing themselves to get out of position on multiple occasions because they followed the puck instead of keeping track of where their defensive coverage was supposed to be. This game felt too much like last year, which we are hoping to see much less of in the coming season, but I have a feeling there will still be games like this that will happen this coming season.
The Blackhawks are back in action against the Red Wings again, but with Chicago the home team this time. That game will be at 7:30 p.m. CDT on Tuesday night.