The Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings renewed their rivalry for the second time in three days Friday night. Like on Wednesday, the Red Wings earned a two-goal victory, shutting out the Blackhawks 2-0.

Chicago native Christian Fischer broke the scoreless tie early in the second as he was left alone on the doorstep to tap home a pass from Andrew Copp. Vladimir Tarasenko doubled the lead eight minutes later while a 5v3 expired. That was all the scoring the home team needed to sweep the two-game preseason series from the Blackhawks.

Arvid Soderblom Looks Good in Preseason Debut

It is no secret that the Blackhawks were upset with Arvid Soderblom’s lack of success during the 2023-24 season. General manager Kyle Davidson signed Laurent Brossoit to replace Soderblom. However, offseason knee surgery has Brossoit on the shelf. With him likely to miss at least the first four-game road trip of the season, Soderblom is back in the NHL picture.

Soderblom got all sixty minutes in Detroit, and he played well. He allowed two goals in the second period when he was under fire, facing 13 shots in the frame. The rebound control was better than usual, and he made a really lovely right-pad save to deny Amadeus Lombardi.

“He was solid,” head coach Luke Richardson said after the game. “Unfortunately, we gave them that 5v3 with Tarasenko, who’s a heavy shooter. Other than that, I think he was really solid. He was simple playing the puck and made some big stops with not a lot of rebounds. It was a good first outing.”

Nobody is declaring Soderblom the goaltender of the future because of his first preseason performance. However, it was great to see him start the campaign on a high note. His lack of confidence was his biggest downfall last season, so building some in September is a huge step in the right direction.

Is Time Running Out for Lukas Reichel?

Speaking of players who need a confidence boost, Lukas Reichel had the type of game we became used to seeing from him. He was barely noticeable and didn’t make a mark on the scoresheet until he got his first shot attempt off in the game’s final minutes.

I am not giving up on the former first-round pick, but my expectations are starting to come back to Earth. We have seen far more games like tonight than that incredible stretch to end the 2022-23 got shot the expectations through the roof. Reichel is no longer waiver-exempt, so he must clear to be sent down to the Rockford IceHogs. Whether a team would claim him is debatable, but the Blackhawks probably don’t want to risk losing him for nothing. If he does make the team, I hope it’s because he deserves it and not because the team is worried about losing him to a waiver claim.

Time will tell…

Frank Nazar has Better Showing in Hometown

One of the biggest disappointments from Wednesday’s loss to the Red Wings was the sloppy play of Frank Nazar. It was the first time in his very young professional career that he didn’t look comfortable playing in the NHL.

“I came in at the end of the year feeling my best,” Nazar said Friday morning. “I worked really hard in the summer, and I’m in a better spot than I was at the end of last year. But, getting those puck touches in and getting used to the crowd. Each game, you start to feel better. With each period and each shift, you get better and more confident. Getting those shifts and games in really helps moving forward.”

Nazar’s theory about getting better with every game and shift looked valid with how he played. With over 90 friends and family members in attendance, he led all players with five shots on goal. However, he was on the ice for the first goal against and had the silly cross-checking penalty that gave Detroit the 5v3 advantage, where they scored their second goal.

The 20-year-old forward had more jump in his step and played more confidently. He still tried a couple of those backhand cross-ice passes that he got away with in college, but he will learn that they won’t work at this level. I still think he will start the season in the AHL, but never say never.

Colton Dach Gets the Message

It was clear during prospects camp that the organization wants Colton Dach to play with more of an edge. IceHogs head coach Andres Sorensen said Dach needs to play consistently every night and play with emotion without being emotional.

The message was received loud and clear. Dach led the team with five hits. He had two shots on goal on six attempts and two takeaways in 12:29 of ice time. He took a kneeing penalty, but I’m not sure it was warranted based on the limited replays from the game feed. It was a good start for the second-year pro, who is still a long shot to make the team out of camp. If he continues to play with the physical edge, it will only be a matter of time before he calls the United Center home.