The Chicago Blackhawks came into Friday night’s action riding high, having defeated the Anaheim Ducks and Arizona Coyotes in succession in convincing fashion. The offense was humming, putting up 14 goals between the two games, and generally dominating play all around the ice. All momentum was lost when they took on the Los Angeles Kings, however. After playing well in his previous two outings, Arvid Soderblom turned back into a piece of Swiss cheese. He was pulled with 5:41 remaining in the first after allowing his fourth goal of the period, and only stopping 10 out of 14 shots.
Landon Slaggert was in the lineup to make his NHL debut in front of friends and family at the United Center, which was the one highlight of the game for the Blackhawks. Hopefully he is able to show off his talent in the remaining games of the season and get some good exposure to the pro level to be a part of things next season.
A rookie lap in front of the home crowd 🤗
Welcome to the National, Landon Slaggert!@NHLBlackhawks | #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/tQjpGrE674
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) March 16, 2024
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Los Angeles went up 1–0 early in this one. Just 3:10 in, Pierre-Luc Dubois took the carom off the boards and put it past Soderblom. A little over two minutes later, the Kings struck again. Jarred Tinordi missed his man in front of the net, and Alex Laferriere got a tip on a shot from the point past Soderblom to make it 2–0. The remaining two goals from the Kings came on the stick of Anze Kopitar, and both were far too easy. Soderblom was five feet out of his net on the first goal, and no one picked up Kopitar on his second, giving him easy tap-ins both times.
The Kings would add one more goal in the second period, on a bad angle shot from defenseman Jordan Spence, who picked up his first goal of the season on that shot. Neither team put up any goals in the third. They did not need to, though, as this game just needed to be done and over by that point.
- After two solid outings previously, Soderblom reverted to his former awful form. Nearly every game he has appeared in this season has been unwatchable, as his performance has been so terrible. He seems to need a reset, and even in a lost season, the Blackhawks should give him one.
- With four opportunities on the power play, one goal would be an expected outcome. Not even getting that is a tough pill to swallow for team and fans alike, especially with the power play being red hot entering the night.
- This was just an ugly game all around. The whole team looks lethargic at this point in the season, especially when there is not much to play for.
The Blackhawks are next up against the San Jose Sharks on Sunday afternoon in a battle for 32nd place in the standings. That game will be airing at 5 p.m. CDT on NBC Sports Chicago.