Blackhawks Postgame
Ryan Donato Leads the Way in Blowout of Predators
The Chicago Blackhawks handed the Nashville Predators their sixth straight loss with a 6-2 blowout. This was their first game against a team out of the playoffs in the last eight games, but they didn’t play down to their competition. Instead, they played one of their most complete games of the season to move to within three points of the Predators in the standings.
Frank Nazar scored the game’s opening goal by one-timing a pass from Alex Vlasic in behind Juuse Saros for his fourth goal of the season. The lead lasted all of 20 seconds as Colton Sissons evened up the score by finishing off a 2v1 rush after the puck jumped over Seth Jones’ stick at the blue line. Pat Maroon restored the Blackhawks’ lead six minutes later as a failed clearing attempt from the rebound off Lukas Reichel’s shot went right on his stick.
After spending the first two minutes of the second period in the penalty box, Conor Bedard doubled the lead with a power-play goal. Ryan Donato found him at the left dot, where he one-timed an absolute rocket into the Nashville net for his 16th tally of the year. Later in the period, Donato made it 4-1 with his new career-high 17th goal of the season. He finished a nice passing play with Teuvo Tervainen by sliding a backhand shot through the five-hole.
Speaking of nice passing plays, Jones scored a power-play goal in the final seconds of the middle frame. Bedard started the play with a cross-ice to Donato, who quickly got it to a driving Jones, who tipped it past Saros.
Donato added a second goal late in the third period as a little chip pass by Vlasic in the neutral zone sent him in all alone to cap off his first career four-point game. He was one of six Blackhawks with multiple points as Bedard, Nazar, Jones, Teravainen, and Vlasic all had two.
New Defensive Shutdown Line?
If you only look at goals and points, you wouldn’t think losing Jason Dickinson was a huge deal. However, those stats alone don’t quantify how important the veteran center is to this team. He anchors the team’s shutdown defensive line. He has spent the most time centering Teravainen and Ilya Mikheyev. In fact, that line has more 5v5 ice time this season than any other trio.
As interim head coach Anders Sorensen said this morning, there isn’t just one player who will fill Dickinson’s skates; it will be a collective effort.
“It’s going to be a bigger group of players versus just one player,” he said. “A little bit is because some of the guys haven’t been in that situation. We’ll try to see how it goes with some of these guys and see if they can handle it. Then, make adjustments from there if needed. And if they’re doing well, we’ll keep playing them there.”
Sorensen said he has no problems elevating some of his younger players in situations when Dickinson is usually on the ice. Nazar was the first man up tonight, who started the night between Teravainen and Mikheyev. This shows a ton of trust from his head coach, but it isn’t a big surprise either. Sorensen used Nazar in big situations when they were both down with the Rockford IceHogs earlier this year.
The line produced Nazar’s first-period goal, but they weren’t used against the Predators’ top line at all. Bedard’s line drew the assignment against Nashville’s top players like Steven Stamkos, Filip Forsberg, and Jonathan Marchessault.
“We challenged Connor, and he wanted the challenge — he wanted to play against those guys,” Sorensen said. “That’s part of the learning curve. When you’re our number-one center, you have to play against other teams’ number-one centers. It was great.”
As the Blackhawks bench boss said on Thursday, Bedard wants to be the best player in the league. He knows he needs to be a better defensive player. A great way to improve is to play against the best your opponent has to offer. With Dickinson out, this gives him the chance to step up.
What To Do with Ryan Donato?
As Jones said after the game, Donato is “hotter than burnt toast.” The 28-year-old forward is setting a shining example that you will be rewarded when you put in the work. The improvement in his game from last season to this has been nothing short of remarkable. The effort and the drive have always been there, and his improved skating and speed are helping him put up career numbers.
I’ve wanted to see Donato get a contract extension for weeks. This locker room needs more continuity from year to year. We’ve constantly heard how this team wants the identity of being hard to play against, and nobody is harder to play against on this roster than Donato is.
With all that being said, Donato’s trade value has never been higher. He went out and had a career night with a pressbox full of scouts ahead of the March 7 trade deadline. General manager Kyle Davidson has a difficult choice to make. Does he keep a player his locker room loves and reward him with a new deal, or does he trade him for more draft picks?
It’s a fluid situation. I’d set a high asking price, and if I don’t get it, you keep him. The biggest unknown factor in all of this is what Donato wants to do. He might want to go on a playoff run and test the open market after a career year with the salary cap increasing. This will likely be his final chance to cash in and get a big contract. We’ll see how this all plays out over the next month.
