Chicago Blackhawks Fall to Canucks 3-2 in Shootout Drama

The Chicago Blackhawks suffered a closely contested loss to the Vancouver Canucks, falling 3-2 in a shootout on March 15, 2025. The defeat marked the Hawks’ eleventh consecutive loss to the Canucks in their head-to-head series, with their last victory against Vancouver dating back to November 21, 2021.

The match took a serious turn when Blackhawks center Filip Chytil sustained a concussion after a hit from Jason Dickinson. Chytil left the game and was later diagnosed with a concussion, sidelining him for the remainder of the 2024-25 season. This injury is particularly unfortunate for the 26-year-old, who has a history of concussions and other injuries, having missed the final 72 games of the previous season.

Game Highlights and Controversial Calls

The Blackhawks initially took control with two goals in the first period from Ryan Donato and Tyler Bertuzzi, leading 2-0. However, the Canucks rallied back with second-period goals from Jake Debrusk and Max Sasson, leveling the score at 2-2.

As the game approached its conclusion, Bertuzzi appeared to have scored the go-ahead goal with just over five minutes remaining in the third period. However, the referees disallowed the goal due to a call of goaltender interference, a decision that left both Bertuzzi and Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill frustrated. Bertuzzi commented, “I think it was not that great of a call,” while Blashill, who unsuccessfully challenged the ruling, stated, “I’d challenge it again 10 out of 10.”

Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen played a pivotal role in the match, stopping 31 shots and preventing any further scoring from the Blackhawks after the first period. The shootout concluded with Canucks right winger Brock Boeser scoring the decisive goal, sealing the victory for Vancouver.

Looking Ahead

The loss was a missed opportunity for the Blackhawks, especially against a Canucks team playing its second game in two nights after a victory over the Dallas Stars. Defenseman Connor Murphy emphasized the importance of capitalizing on such chances, stating, “To not put together enough of a push to take a team’s will away when you have them down is a big difference in winning and losing.”

Despite the defeat, the Blackhawks demonstrated resilience, notably on the penalty kill, successfully stopping 6 of 7 Canucks power plays. However, their league-leading total of 36 penalties and average of 14.3 minutes in penalties per game remains a concern. Blashill acknowledged the need for improvement, saying, “That’s a real issue, it’s something we’ve addressed. We need to get better at it.”

As the Blackhawks reflect on the game, they will aim to learn from their mistakes and improve their performance as the season progresses.