3 takeaways from Chicago Blackhawks shootout loss to Nashville

The Chicago Blackhawks picked up a point in the standings but failed to secure the victory.

The Hawks forced the game into overtime, but they were unable to get the decisive goal and lost to the Nashville Predators in a shootout.

The Blackhawks have now lost four straight. It was their first extra-time defeat of the season.

Here are three takeaways from that defeat…

The third line was outstanding.

Nick Foligno was the star of that line with two goals and an assist.

Foligno’s assist came on Jason Dickinson blasting a shot past goalie Juuse Saros in the second period. That goal kept the game from getting out of hand as the Predators had scored back-to-back goals to go up by a goal.

Lukas Reichel had a terrible second period, but a good third period.

Reichel has struggled this season. He became the forgotten top prospect the moment Connor Bedard arrived. He has played like it.

Reichel was a healthy scratch against the Minnesota Wild. He was then demoted to the fourth line.

His second period was brutal. He committed one of two penalties in that period. Thankfully, it did not lead to another goal.

Reichel bounced back with a great third period. He was active and nearly had a chance to score the go-ahead goal, but the puck slipped off his stick.

That happened a lot to the Chicago Blackhawks in the third. They had a few chances to get that fourth goal, but the puck and the sticks could not connect.

Taylor Raddysh had a mini breakaway, but the ref slipped on the ice which cut off Raddysh getting more of an angle towards the net. He was still able to get a shot off, but it was easily caught by Soros.

Getting back to Reichel, head coach Luke Richardson liked what he saw out of him. Hopefully being scratched and then demoted serves as a wake-up call (subscription required) and gets Reichel going.

Seth Jones still does not have a goal, but he had two assists.

The Hawks’ top defenseman still does not have a goal on the season. However, the team’s style of play is the reason for that.

He worked well with that effective third line. Jones had the only assist on Foligno’s first goal. He picked up the secondary assist on Foligno’s second.

The San Jose Sharks won so that puts the Chicago Blackhawks dead last in the NHL.