Blackhawks Rout Blues in Milwaukee to Avoid Finishing Winless in Preseason
Avoiding Winless Preseason
It required a strange combination of Connor Bedard playing with an otherwise largely minor-league roster, but the Blackhawks avoided finishing winless in the preseason. Bedard terrorized Blues goalie prospect Vadim Zherenko shift after shift Saturday at Fiserv Forum, home of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks, as the Hawks cruised to a 6-2 victory.
Preseason Struggles
The Hawks finished the preseason at 1-4-1, and although that looks better than their 0-4-1 mark after Friday, it was still a concerning tune-up period, considering how poorly many of their NHL veterans played. Aside from Bedard, after all, most of the standouts against St. Louis were young guys who will start the reason in Rockford — including forward Frank Nazar, who finally produced the dominant performance he needed to push for an NHL roster spot, albeit too late.
Wisconsin Connection
The Hawks’ preseason game in Milwaukee two years ago — the first NHL game in Wisconsin since 1993 — was a momentous occasion for the local hockey community. This year’s visit didn’t have the same novelty factor, but the Hawks’ investment in the state has nonetheless made an impact. The team said there has been a 66% increase in the number of Hawks fans in Milwaukee since 2022, according to YouGov data. For this year’s game, 60% of the tickets were purchased by Wisconsin residents — a sizable amount, although less than in 2022, when the number was 81%.
Load Management
All summer, forward Taylor Hall felt confident that his repaired ACL wouldn’t cause him problems. So far, he has been correct. He still will be on a slight load-management plan, however, to make sure it doesn’t start causing problems. Hall won’t be on the ice for more than four consecutive days, which could lead to some missed practices for maintenance purposes. Coach Luke Richardson is on board with that.
No Popcorn
Forward Joey Anderson’s roster spot likely was secured by Nazar’s assignment to Rockford to start the season. Considering he allowed the fewest scoring chances per minute of any Hawk last season (despite regularly facing top lines), it would’ve been unjust and unwise to cut him this fall. Anderson, 26, cleaned up his diet this summer at home in Minnesota. “I just don’t eat as much as I used to,” he said. “I eat a lot of eggs, which has been my staple lately. If I need a snack, I’ll make an egg sandwich or cook up something like that, instead of having chocolate chips or popcorn or whatever. [I wanted to] transition my snacks.”
Conclusion
The Blackhawks’ preseason was marked by struggles, but they were able to end it on a high note with a 6-2 victory over the Blues. The team will now look to build on this momentum as they head into the regular season.
FAQs
Q: Why did the Blackhawks struggle in the preseason?
A: The team struggled with many of their NHL veterans playing poorly, and many of their young players struggled to find their footing.
Q: Who was a standout for the Blackhawks against the Blues?
A: Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar were standouts for the Blackhawks against the Blues, with Bedard terrorizing Blues goalie prospect Vadim Zherenko shift after shift.
Q: What was the significance of the Hawks’ preseason game in Milwaukee?
A: The Hawks’ preseason game in Milwaukee was a momentous occasion for the local hockey community, and the team’s investment in the state has made an impact, with a 66% increase in the number of Hawks fans in Milwaukee since 2022.
