The Chicago Blackhawks secured a thrilling 4-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens in a shootout on Monday, April 14, 2025, preventing the Canadiens from clinching a playoff spot. Frank Nazar, who had a goal and an assist in regulation, scored the only goal of the shootout, but the game was marred by controversy when officials initially missed a clear goal during the shootout.
As the action unfolded at the Bell Centre in Montreal, the Canadiens were in a position to clinch a playoff berth with a win. They entered the game four points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are vying for the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot. Montreal could secure their playoff spot if Columbus loses either of its remaining two games or if they avoid a regulation loss against the Carolina Hurricanes in their final game on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
The game was tightly contested, with both teams exchanging goals. Tyler Bertuzzi and Lukas Reichel also found the back of the net for the Blackhawks, while Ivan Demidov made an impressive debut for the Canadiens, scoring a goal and registering an assist. Demidov, the fifth overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, had just signed with Montreal after completing his season in the KHL.
In the shootout, Nazar was the first shooter for Chicago. He fired a shot that appeared to cross the goal line behind Canadiens goalie Samuel Montembeault, but the officials ruled it did not count, believing the puck had gone out of play. Patrick Laine followed up for Montreal but missed his attempt. It wasn't until the league notified the officials that they reviewed the play and confirmed Nazar's shot had indeed gone in, retroactively awarding him the goal. This led to some heated discussions, as the Canadiens had already used two shooters by the time the ruling was corrected.
“It was a tough situation,” said Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson. “Frank made a great play, and it’s unfortunate the officials didn’t see it right away. But we’ll take the win.”
In the end, Arvid Soderblom was stellar in goal for the Blackhawks, stopping all three of Montreal’s shootout attempts after making 18 saves during regulation and overtime. His performance was crucial in securing the victory.
Meanwhile, in another notable game, the Utah Hockey Club triumphed over the Nashville Predators with a dominant 7-3 scoreline. Clayton Keller had a night to remember, celebrating his 600th career game by scoring two goals and assisting on two others, marking a career-high 89 points for the season.
Keller’s performance helped the Utah franchise, in its inaugural season, to a strong finish as they continue to establish themselves in the league. Matt Villalta made his debut in goal for Utah, making 27 saves and ending a 23-start streak for Karel Vejmelka, who had been the team's primary goaltender.
Ryan O’Reilly also contributed for Nashville, scoring his 20th goal of the season and reaching the 50-point mark for the year. However, the Predators have now lost two straight games, raising questions about their late-season performance.
In another matchup, the New York Rangers defeated the Florida Panthers 5-3 in Sunrise, Florida. Vincent Trocheck scored a pivotal short-handed goal in the third period, helping the Rangers rally from a 3-1 deficit. New York scored four unanswered goals to secure the win, despite being eliminated from playoff contention just two days prior.
Trocheck’s goal was part of a strong offensive performance that included contributions from Matt Rempe, Juuso Parssinen, J.T. Miller, and Jonny Brodzinski. Jonathan Quick stood tall in net, making 27 saves to secure the victory.
The Panthers, the reigning Stanley Cup champions, managed to score two goals from Sam Reinhart and one from Carter Verhaeghe, but their efforts fell short. Florida has already clinched a playoff berth, but they will need to regroup as they prepare for the postseason.
Finally, the Detroit Red Wings closed out their home schedule with a 6-4 victory over the Dallas Stars. Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider each had a goal and two assists, leading Detroit to their second consecutive win despite being eliminated from playoff contention.
Jonatan Berggren also added to the scoring for the Red Wings. Cam Talbot made 24 saves in goal, helping Detroit secure a solid win in front of their home fans.
As the NHL regular season winds down, the playoff picture continues to take shape, with teams battling for positioning and the intensity ramping up. For the Blackhawks, the win over Montreal not only keeps their hopes alive but also adds a layer of drama as they navigate the final stretch of the season.
