The Chicago Blackhawks continued to struggle in the NHL Winter Classic, falling 6-2 to the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday. The Blackhawks have been the most frequent participant in the league's premier outdoor showcase and remain winless.
Frustration boiled over for key players Connor Bedard and Taylor Hall while Nick Foligno labeled the loss «embarrassing» because it came at home.
Nick Foligno believed the game would mark a turning point for the team but admitted fans are likely growing tired of excuses.
Held at Wrigley Field on New Year's Eve, the 2025 Winter Classic was meant to celebrate Chicago's hockey legacy and hint at a brighter future.
Instead, the Blackhawks were dominated from the start. Bedard described the team's performance as being «dog-walked,» capturing the mood of the night.
Taylor Hall sounded emotional talking to reporters after the game. For a Winter Classic, one of the NHL's most hyped matchups, the added sting to the defeat was real.
Taylor Hall and Connor Bedard also underlined the attendance for such a game comes at a pretty steep cost, which underscored what this game has meant to the fans.
Rebuilding teams go through losses that can be considered character-building. It is through competitiveness that hope is sustained. A game that had offered one avenue to instill belief in a better future offered up instead a team going through the motions.
Sure, Connor Bedard continues to be a bright and young cornerstone, but frustration is evident even in his game now.
GM Kyle Davidson had a trade lined up earlier this year, one meant to help fill out this roster, so perhaps it is time to revisit such a plan if only to offer Bedard a respite from his feeling as if the team has taken another step back in their growth.
POLL | ||
JANVIER 1 | 195 ANSWERS Taylor Hall Fights Tears When Addressing Horrible Play in Winter Classic Did you watch the Winter Classic? | ||
Yes | 38 | 19.5 % |
No | 157 | 80.5 % |
LIST OF POLLS |
G | A | PTS | ||
Christian Dvorak | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Brendan Gallagher | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Jason Robertson | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Matt Duchene | - | 2 | 2 | |
Adam Fox | - | 2 | 2 | |
Matej Blumel | 1 | - | 1 | |
Mavrik Bourque | 1 | - | 1 | |
Will Cuylle | 1 | - | 1 | |
Wyatt Johnston | 1 | - | 1 | |
Marco Kasper | 1 | - | 1 | |
Chris Kreider | 1 | - | 1 | |
Alexis Lafrenière | 1 | - | 1 | |
Patrik Laine | 1 | - | 1 | |
Zack Ostapchuk | 1 | - | 1 | |
Juraj Slafkovsky | 1 | - | 1 | |
Nick Suzuki | 1 | - | 1 | |
Tomas Tatar | 1 | - | 1 | |
Mika Zibanejad | 1 | - | 1 | |
Artem Zub | 1 | - | 1 | |
Mike Amadio | - | 1 | 1 | |
Complete stats |
STANDINGS 2024-2025 | ||||||
TOP 10 | GP | W | L | OL | PTS | |
Capitals | 46 | 31 | 10 | 5 | 67 | |
Jets | 47 | 31 | 13 | 3 | 65 | |
Oilers | 46 | 29 | 14 | 3 | 61 | |
Golden Knights | 46 | 29 | 14 | 3 | 61 | |
Maple Leafs | 47 | 29 | 16 | 2 | 60 | |
Stars | 46 | 29 | 16 | 1 | 59 | |
Wild | 46 | 27 | 15 | 4 | 58 | |
Devils | 49 | 26 | 17 | 6 | 58 | |
Hurricanes | 46 | 27 | 16 | 3 | 57 | |
Avalanche | 47 | 28 | 18 | 1 | 57 | |
Conference | Cumulative |