Two Thoughts After the Blackhawks 5-1 Win over Philadelphia

It never really goes how one expects it. A pair of days after being frustrated and shut down by the Ottawa Senators, the Blackhawks came roaring back with a 5-1 beatdown of the Philadelphia Flyers, who are fighting to keep a spot in the playoffs.

The Blackhawks recorded their seventh win in March, which to put into context, was just one victory short of their combined total in the past three months. Prior to March, the Blackhawks won 15 games. They nearly have half that total after in just this month alone.

Tonight’s game also saw output from a variety of sources. Here are a couple thoughts from the win.

Lukas Reichel Rewarded For Assertiveness

In what has been the broken record moment of the entire season, everyone has wanted to see the Lukas Reichel that had seven goals and 15 points in just 23 games last season.

There was a flash of that player Saturday night. Reichel reacted quickly behind the net, tucking the puck past a scrambling goalie and giving Chicago a 1-0 lead. Finally, after months of frustration and a handful of games in Rockford to reclaim some confidence. Reichel would pick up an assist on Joey Anderson’s goal, too. A multi point game with a goal to boot.

It has been a long time coming and something that might get him going as the final eight games play their way out of the season.

Blackhawks Role Players Step Up and Rewarded for Their Efforts, Too

Anderson was able to race in alone and bury a goal, fitting for a guy is always racing down the ice and playing the role of disruptor–or assisting on goals. Reichel chipped the puck up and Anderson was off finishing off the chance. Anderson quietly has been one of the Blackhawks more consistent players but isn’t one who will end up on the scoresheet every night.

Tonight he did.

sound 🔛 for tonight's chain video 🥹 pic.twitter.com/xJznSaYLGf

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 31, 2024

Nick Foligno scored his 17th of the season while MacKenzie Entwistle added one, too. The role players, following a bitterly disappointing effort on Thursday night, were present and accounted for.

One last name–Arvid Soderblom, who has been an easy target for Blackhawks fans tired of gobs of losing. Soderblom hasn’t always had the best moments this season and his win/loss record reads like a hockey horror show but how much of that has really been on him?

Tonight with goal support, he shut it all down, making 30 saves and giving the Hawks their seventh win of the month to close it out the right way.

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