{"id":34738,"date":"2025-12-31T05:24:39","date_gmt":"2025-12-31T11:24:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/chicago\/2025\/12\/31\/artyom-levshunov-shows-his-best-offensive-game-in-blackhawks-shootout-loss\/"},"modified":"2025-12-31T05:24:40","modified_gmt":"2025-12-31T11:24:40","slug":"artyom-levshunov-shows-his-best-offensive-game-in-blackhawks-shootout-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/chicago\/2025\/12\/31\/artyom-levshunov-shows-his-best-offensive-game-in-blackhawks-shootout-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"Artyom Levshunov shows his ‘best offensive game’ in Blackhawks’ shootout loss"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction to Artyom Levshunov’s Performance<\/h2>\n

Blackhawks defenseman Artyom Levshunov, even with his limited English, has picked up two of coach Jeff Blashill\u2019s most frequent phrases. \u201cIt\u2019s a process, and it takes time,\u201d Levshunov said Tuesday before the Hawks\u2019 3-2 shootout loss to the Islanders. Those mantras apply to Levshunov as much as anyone, considering how long it often takes defensemen to develop and how raw he was when the Hawks drafted him in 2024. As tempting as it is to rush to judgments about his strengths and weaknesses, those won\u2019t be solidified for years.<\/p>\n

Analysis of the Game<\/h2>\n

Tuesday ended up being one of Levshunov\u2019s best offensive performances of the season. He helped the Hawks rally back from another early deficit, and they would\u2019ve won had Nick Foligno not hit the post on an open net with five seconds left in regulation. Instead, they ended up falling to 2-7 in overtime\/shootout games this season. It was an unfortunate result that contained several encouraging signs. Levshunov consistently moved his legs and kept his head up, picking up pucks off the wall and maneuvering around Islanders to penetrate the interior of the zone. He did exactly that to set up a Teuvo Teravainen goal in the second period, recording his 17th assist of the season \u2014 and his fourth in his last five games.<\/p>\n

Levshunov’s Offensive Performance<\/h3>\n

He\u2019s still stuck on one goal because he hit the post\/crossbar twice Tuesday \u2014 a theme for the Hawks \u2014 to increase his season iron total to five. But Blashill has clearly felt comfortable riding him hard lately. He has averaged more than 23 minutes over the last eight games. \u201cHe was in on the attack a ton, made a ton of plays,\u201d Blashill said. \u201cYou\u2019re going to take a little good with the bad when you get that, but we\u2019re OK with that. I guarantee his positives outweighed his negatives tonight. To me, that\u2019s what you judge players on. Not many positives or how many negatives, but where\u2019s the balance? And his balance was on the right side tonight. It was definitely his best offensive game, and closer to what we\u2019ve been talking to him about doing. We want to push him to attack the game more, and he certainly did that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Olympic Outlook<\/h3>\n

Rosters for the 2026 Winter Olympics will be announced Wednesday, and the Hawks\u2019 eyes will be focused on Bedard and Team Canada \u2014 although it seems unlikely he will be selected. His shoulder injury has hurt the cause, but he made a very compelling case beforehand. Blashill argued Tuesday that Bedard has proven he\u2019s a \u201cworld-class player.\u201d If Bedard doesn\u2019t make the initial cut, he could get added later as an injury replacement. That\u2019s also probably the only route to Milan for Andre Burakovsky, who was born in Austria but competes internationally for Sweden. That could leave Teuvo Teravainen, who\u2019s a virtual lock for Team Finland, as the Hawks\u2019 lone Olympian. Russia and Belarus\u2019 Olympic bans eliminated any opportunity for Ilya Mikheyev and Levshunov, respectively, to participate.<\/p>\n

Injury Update<\/h3>\n

Just when it looked like Jason Dickinson might make it through the final month of his injury-filled 2025 calendar year without suffering another injury, he didn\u2019t return Tuesday after the first intermission due to a muscular aggravation. Blashill called him day-to-day and questionable for Thursday against the Stars. If he can\u2019t play, the Hawks\u2019 center depth will be particularly dire. Ryan Greene and Nick Foligno would be the only true centers left, although the Hawks also tried out Oliver Moore at that position Tuesday and he played very well, producing his first multi-assist performance of the season.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

In conclusion, Artyom Levshunov’s performance in the Blackhawks’ shootout loss to the Islanders was one of his best offensive games of the season. Despite the loss, there were several encouraging signs, including Levshunov’s ability to consistently move his legs and keep his head up, picking up pucks off the wall and maneuvering around Islanders to penetrate the interior of the zone. The Hawks will be keeping a close eye on the Olympic rosters, which will be announced on Wednesday, and will be hoping that some of their players will be selected to participate.<\/p>\n

FAQs<\/h2>\n