ST. LOUIS (AP) — On a night when the Chicago Blackhawks were missing their captain, Nick Foligno, Lukas Reichel rose to the occasion in an explosive 8-3 victory over the St. Louis Blues, delivering two goals and an assist to power his team to their second consecutive win.
With the victory, the Blackhawks notched their first two-game winning streak of the season after opening with a tough loss to the Colorado Avalanche. Chicago had previously beaten Utah 3-1 on Monday, earning their first win of the year. But it was Wednesday night’s performance in St. Louis that really caught the attention of the league, as Reichel and company showcased their offensive firepower.
Reichel, who entered the game looking for his first career multi-goal outing, delivered on that front with a pair of highlight-reel tallies, the second of which came early in the second period and helped the Blackhawks take control of the game. As impressive as Reichel was, it was a team effort from top to bottom, with contributions from Connor Bedard, Ilya Mikheyev, and several others. For a squad that is still in the process of adjusting to life post-Kane, this kind of depth scoring is a significant step forward.
A Night of Firepower for the Blackhawks
Chicago wasted no time in asserting their dominance over the Blues, taking a 1-0 lead early in the first period. Frank Nazar opened the scoring at 6:12, assisted by Reichel and Mikheyev, after a patient play in the offensive zone. Reichel, ever the playmaker, was at the heart of the action, sending a precise pass across to Nazar, who buried it past St. Louis goaltender Joel Hofer.
While the Blues responded quickly with a goal of their own from Jake Neighbours at 7:42, the Blackhawks’ momentum didn’t falter. In fact, they quickly regained the lead with a beauty from Ilya Mikheyev, who fired one past Hofer with a wrist shot that found its way to the top corner at 12:13. Mikheyev’s goal seemed to settle the Blackhawks in, but they would soon face a bit of adversity when Dylan Holloway responded for St. Louis with a deflection goal that tied the game at 2-2 heading into the second period.
It was clear that this would be a high-energy, back-and-forth affair, and the Blackhawks were up for the challenge.
Lukas Reichel Steals the Show
While the first period had been a tense, competitive exchange, the second period was when the Blackhawks really started to pull away. Reichel proved to be the catalyst, scoring his first of the night at 2:49, with a crisp wrist shot off a feed from Bedard and Mikheyev. The goal gave Chicago the lead once again, but they weren’t finished there.
Just a few minutes later, at 4:32, Frank Nazar scored his second of the game — a well-placed shot from the right circle after a faceoff win. The Blackhawks’ offensive juggernaut was in full swing, and the Blues were struggling to contain them. Jason Dickinson added another at 8:52, his first of the season, on a quick rebound that Hofer failed to cover in time.
Reichel’s second goal of the night came at 2:49 of the second period, a one-time shot off a smooth pass from Connor Bedard, who finished the game with three assists. Bedard, still adjusting to the rigors of an 82-game season, showed his vision and playmaking ability on several occasions throughout the night, but none more memorable than his pass to Reichel, who made no mistake in converting the opportunity.
Reichel’s pair of goals not only marked his first career multi-goal game but also solidified his role as a crucial offensive piece in the Blackhawks’ lineup.
The Blues Struggle Between the Pipes
For the St. Louis Blues, the goaltending situation was far from ideal. Joel Hofer started the game but was pulled after allowing four goals on 14 shots. While he did manage to make some strong saves early on, the sheer volume and quality of Chicago’s chances overwhelmed him. The Blues turned to Jordan Binnington in the second period, but his stint was similarly uneventful, as the Blackhawks added two more goals before he was replaced again by Hofer in the third period.
Hofer ended the night with 15 saves on 19 shots, while Binnington recorded six saves on seven shots. The Blues’ defense was simply not able to keep pace with the Blackhawks’ high-octane attack, and the goaltenders bore the brunt of that. The inability to get timely saves only compounded the problems for a Blues team that was already having trouble defensively.
Third Period Surge
The third period saw the Blackhawks continue to pour it on, with a goal from Ryan Donato just 2:22 into the frame to make it 6-2. Then, Teuvo Teravainen and Ryan Greene added more goals to put the game well out of reach for St. Louis. Greene’s first career goal came at 12:21, capping off a dominant night for the Chicago offense. The Blackhawks’ 8-3 lead was a testament to how well-rounded their attack had been — and how quickly they could take control of a game when they’re firing on all cylinders.
Missing Nick Foligno, But Still Dominant
The Blackhawks’ victory came despite the absence of captain Nick Foligno, who was away from the team to support his 12-year-old daughter through follow-up surgery related to her congenital heart disease. It was a powerful reminder of the personal lives of athletes, but it also demonstrated the team’s resilience. With their captain out of the lineup, Chicago showed no signs of slowing down, thanks in large part to the leadership of Reichel, Bedard, and veteran players like Mikheyev and Dickinson.
While Foligno’s leadership and presence were surely missed, the Blackhawks showed that they have the depth to compete at a high level, even when facing adversity.
Looking Ahead
With two consecutive victories, the Blackhawks will look to build momentum as they continue their early-season schedule. While the team still has plenty of work to do — particularly in maintaining consistency on both ends of the ice — this win served as a reminder of the potential the Blackhawks have when they’re firing on all cylinders.
For Reichel, this could be a breakout year. The young forward has always had the skill and vision to contribute offensively, but his two-goal performance against the Blues could be the start of a strong campaign. Meanwhile, Connor Bedard’s playmaking continues to impress, and the Blackhawks will be looking for more chemistry between their star players as the season progresses.
