If you were wondering how the new-look top line would do for the Blackhawks, they scored the game’s first goal only 79 seconds into the game (on their first shift). The Hawks then proceeded to out-skate the Wild for most of the rest of the opening period, and doubled their lead almost 14 minutes after the first goal. Chicago took a 14-8 shots on goal advantage and 2-0 score to the room after 20 minutes.
You knew the Wild were going to push back in the second period, and they did. The next goal was going to be important — and it came off another burst of speed from Ilya Mikheyev to extend the Blackhawks’ lead to three. Unfortunately, a bouncing puck became a problem when Matt Grzelcyk attempted a kick that wouldn’t impress at a junior high soccer team tryout and got burned by Yakov Trenin.
Again, to start the third period with a two-goal lead the Wild were going to bring it. And, this time, they got the next goal. Joel Eriksson Ek cut the Blackhawks’ lead to one at 3:57 into the third period. After a scramble around the front of the Blackhawks’ net, Minnesota was able to tie the game with 2:01 left in regulation.
The Wild had gone to overtime or a shootout in 9 of their previous 16 games, so this one needing extra time was on brand for Minnesota. Five minutes wasn’t enough, even if the Blackhawks got a late power play and put six shots on net with the 4-on-3 advantage. So we got another game decided by a skills competition. Kirill Kaprizov was the only skater to score in the shootout and the Wild took the second point and the win.
Star 1: Connor Bedard
Bedard was really good tonight. He picked up an assist on Teuvo’s goal in the first period and almost scored in the second. After two periods, Natural Stat Trick had Bedard with a stacked stat line: team-leading 1.33 expected goals for and the Blackhawks had a 12-3 shots on goal advantage at 5-on-5. He personally had the Blackhawks lead with six shot attempts, six scoring chances, five shots on net and four high danger chances at 5-on-5 in 9:30 at 5-on-5 thru two periods. When the shootout began, Bedard was credited with eight shots on net and 11 shot attempts in the game.
Connor Bedard sauce pass. Beauty. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/i2TPdI29p9
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) January 28, 2026Star 2: Teuvo Teräväinen
Welcome back, Teuvo! Teräväinen scored the first goal of the night in his first game back after missing the previous six contests because of injury. The new-look top line was excellent the entire game. A worthy experiment.
GOAL: Teuvo Teravainen jams in a loose puck to open the scoring! pic.twitter.com/h4ZT7MJZPZ
— BHF (@BlackhawksFocus) January 28, 2026Star 3: Ryan Donato
When the Blackhawks were rolling earlier in the season, they were getting scoring from all over the lineup. Some of that depth scoring had dried up in recent weeks. So Donato snapping an 11-game goal drought in the first period was big for him and the team.
GOAL: Ryan Donato slaps a loose puck into the top corner to extend the lead pic.twitter.com/2Lij4YPVQI
— BHF (@BlackhawksFocus) January 28, 2026Key Takeaways
After great work by Jason Dickinson and Alex Vlasic to get the puck out of a dangerous area in front of the net, Mikheyev was shot out of a cannon and scored his tenth goal of the season.GOAL: Ilya Mikheyev with a snipe off the rush to beat Wallstedt! pic.twitter.com/NddsEGXs26
— BHF (@BlackhawksFocus) January 28, 2026 If I could have had a fourth star it would have been Dickinson. He won 13 of 18 faceoffs and was credited with one assist and two hits in regulation. He spent most of his ice time against the Kaprizov-Hartman-Boldy line and kept them off the scoreboard. The Blackhawks had a 12-6 advantage in scoring chances and 6-1 advantage in high danger chances thru one period. It was a stunningly dominant period — and the Blackhawks were able to score twice. They’ve played some good periods recently that came up either empty or tied, so taking the 2-0 lead to the room felt big. The Blackhawks new-look power play got one advantage in the first period. It was okay, but didn’t score. They had two shots on net on the advantage. The second power play had a few good attempts but did not register a shot on net. The Hawks’ third power play in the third period got one shot on net but wasn’t especially dangerous. If you’re wondering how the new-look top line performed in their first period together, I’d say it went quite well (from Natural Stat Trick at 5-on-5 in the first period): Here’s the new-look top line thru two periods at 5-on-5: With six minutes left in the third period, Artyom Levshunov gambled and pinched at a not ideal time. Landon Slaggert sprinted back and was the first player to the puck in the defensive zone and made a great pass to get the puck away from the attacking Wild forwards. Slaggert’s value is often in making smart, effort plays and he was really good tonight. That moment was especially noticeable. Not a great night overall for Grzelcyk, but he replaced Levshunov with the top power play unit when the Blackhawks got a fourth advantage late in the third period. This was terrific before the game.The Wild and Hawks are having a “Foligno Face-Off” raising money for cancer research in honor of their late mother Janis Foligno. pic.twitter.com/T7EBm05ky8
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) January 28, 2026Hence then, the article about blackhawks 3 wild 4 so three stars key takeaways was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Blackhawks 3, Wild 4 (SO) — Three Stars, Key Takeaways )
Also on site :