DALLAS - Rookie Nick Lardis scored in the fourth round of the shootout to give the Chicago Blackhawks a 4-3 win over the Dallas Stars on Saturday night. The Blackhawks, last in the overall NHL standings, snapped a six-game losing streak. The Stars, second in the overall standings, lost a second consecutive game after regulation following a four-game winning streak.
Key Performances
- Tyler Bertuzzi scored twice, former Star Jason Dickinson added a goal and Arvid Soderblom made 28 saves through overtime for the Blackhawks.
- Mikko Rantanen had a goal and two assists for the Stars.
- Nils Lundkvist and Justin Hrychowian also scored for the Stars.
- Jake Oettinger stopped 30 shots.
- Dallas’ Wyatt Johnston had three assists.
- Chicago’s Alex Vlasic had two assists.
Arvid Soderblom, getting his 12th start with Chicago beginning a back-to-back, snapped a personal five-game skid during which he allowed 29 goals. Soderblom made saves on a pair of Stars breakaways in the third. “A fun game to play,” Soderblom said. “They’re a great team. A lot of good players on that team. “I felt great. I’ve been working on breakaways and 1-on-1 situations.
Chicago won for the first time since star forward Connor Bedard was sidelined by a shoulder injury on Dec. 12. Lardis, playing his sixth NHL game, sent the puck past Oettinger in his first NHL shootout attempt. He was one of five rookies in the Blackhawks’ lineup.
For Lundkvist, who missed 25 games with a lower-body injury, it was his first goal since the season-opening game. Rantanen has 39 assists this season, second in the NHL, and has a six-game point streak (2-10-12). Hryckowian has a five-game point streak (3-2-5).
Game Dynamics
“I thought they were better than us for the first two periods,” Dallas coach Glen Gulutzan said. “We had some chances in the third. We played a better third again. You look around the League, these games after Christmas are unpredictable. ... I just thought we didn’t execute.
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Jason Dickinson put the Blackhawks back in front 2-1 at 10:37 of the second period. Rantanen gave Dallas a 3-2 lead at 11:18 of the third period when he slid a rebound past a sprawling Soderblom off a shot from Johnston. “We generated a lot of chances to win,” Rantanen said. “But have to be on a consistent level.
“I think we had enough chances to win the game. Their goalie played well. “Obviously, 17 of my 18 goals are right in the crease,” Bertuzzi said.
“I think just building every night,” said Hryckowian, who has five points (three goals, two assists) on a five-game streak. “Just come in every game, take each practice, each rep, and build confidence through those.
“I mean, listen, these are hard days,” Chicago coach Jeff Blashill said. “I’ve done it a lot of different ways and it hasn’t been great, so I thought, ‘Let’s try this.’ ... I just thought this was the right move.
NHL Highlights | Blackhawks vs. Stars - December 27, 2025
Additional Game Notes
- Bertuzzi has a team-high 18 goals and ended a seven-game pointless streak.
- Bertuzzi ended his six-game point drought since scoring in consecutive games on Dec. 7 and 10.
- Lardis' shootout goal was the first of his career in his sixth NHL game.
Team Statistics
In a matchup of standout special teams, Dallas’ power play went 0 for 4 against Chicago’s penalty kill - ranked fourth.
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Looking Ahead
The teams will meet again in Chicago on New Year’s night.
- Blackhawks: Host Pittsburgh on Sunday night.
- Stars: Host Buffalo on New Year’s Eve following a second consecutive three days off.
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