Blackhawks' loss to Oilers officially eliminates them from playoff contention

EDMONTON, Alberta — Even the most optimistic Blackhawks players gave up on the playoffs weeks ago, but the inevitable outcome is now guaranteed.

A 3-1 loss Thursday against the Oilers officially eliminated the Hawks from playoff contention for a seventh consecutive season.

The Hawks' odds of ending that drought in 2026-27 might be better than they've been in a while, but they still won't be high. In the meantime, they have just six games left in 2025-26.

Rookie forward Nick Lardis scored the Hawks' lone goal — his fourth in seven games — during a third-period push, but he later left injured after a Teuvo Teravainen shot drilled his hand.

Goalie Spencer Knight saved 31 of 32 shots but missed about five minutes of the second period due to an equipment issue, during which the Oilers took the lead on an Adam Henrique breakaway goal on Arvid Soderblom. It marked just the second time in 76 games this season the Hawks have made an in-game goaltending change.

"I wouldn’t say we didn’t have opportunities," coach Jeff Blashill said, noting that the team's internal analytics actually gave the Hawks a 7-6 advantage in Grade A chances. "I would say we need to shoot more."

The Hawks have beaten the Oilers just once in their last 12 meetings, which shouldn't be surprising given the talent gap between the two teams.

"It felt like we were close but not close enough," Wyatt Kaiser said. "We were kind of chasing after it the whole game."

Slaggert’s search

Landon Slaggert has established himself as a regular among Hawks forwards during the second half of the season after bouncing in and out during the first half.

"What's been able to keep me in the lineup is my competitiveness, my stick, getting in those areas on the forecheck and forcing some turnovers," Slaggert said recently. "I think that's been a strong point in my game."

What hasn't kept him in the lineup, however, is offense — or in his case, a lack of offense. He's mired in a 16-game point drought and has just three goals and three assists in 48 games overall.

He has generated several dangerous scoring chances recently, including a first-period breakaway Thursday, but has failed to convert any.

"The next step is finishing those off, because I know I do have the ability to produce a little more than I am right now," he said, adding that it will be a summer training focus.

"I want to watch a lot of net-front [video]. I find myself around that blue paint a lot. Watching [Tyler Bertuzzi] and how good he is around the net, it's [about] not getting tied up with the 'D.' Obviously getting in the goalie's eyes is important, but he finds a way to almost sneak behind these defenders and make himself available."

Gajan signs

Hawks prospect goalie Adam Gajan made a somewhat unexpected decision Wednesday to turn pro and sign an entry-level contract.

Gajan's sophomore season at Minnesota-Duluth (19-13-1 record, .908 save percentage) went much better than his freshman season (7-12-1, .885), but he might end up in the ECHL next season with Spencer Knight, Arvid Soderblom, Drew Commesso and Stan Berezhnoy ahead of him on the depth chart.

With the 35th pick in 2023, the Hawks made Gajan the highest-drafted goalie in that class, ahead of Michael Hrabal (Mammoth) and Trey Augustine (Red Wings) — two guys who enjoyed better college careers. Then again, pro success is the only thing the Hawks will care about.