ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Blues secured a decisive 4-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on March 22, 2025, extending their winning streak to five games and solidifying their position in the Western Conference wildcard race.
Key performances came from Alexey Toropchenko, who delivered a goal and an assist, and goalie Joel Hofer, who stopped 26 shots, maintaining his impressive form with a record of 4-0-1 in his last five starts. The Blues opened the scoring in the second period, with Robert Thomas batting the puck past Blackhawks goalie Arvid Söderblom at 15:13. Shortly after, Toropchenko capitalized on a turnover, doubling the lead to 2-0 just before a short-handed goal by Chicago’s Ilya Mikheyev brought the score to 2-1 at 19:06.
The Blues responded emphatically in the final period. Nathan Walker found the back of the net, assisted by Toropchenko, just over a minute into the third period, followed by Zach Bolduc's goal at 7:43, sealing the game at 4-1.
The Blackhawks faced considerable challenges, marking their seventh straight loss with an alarming 0-6-1 record in their last seven games. Pat Maroon, who announced his retirement plans earlier in the day, played his final game in front of his hometown crowd and received an emotional farewell in the form of a standing ovation from the fans. Maroon expressed heartfelt sentiments, stating, “I just know it’s time for me and it’s time for my family to go start a new chapter in our lives.” A significant reference point in his career, Maroon scored with the Blues during the Stanley Cup championship season in 2019.
The matchup was gritty, featuring a notable incident in the first period where Jake Neighbours hit Alec Martinez, prompting Jason Dickinson of the Blackhawks to drop the gloves. Dickinson received a 17-minute penalty for instigating the fight, a decision that infuriated many, considering that no penalty was assessed for Martinez’s hit on Neighbours. This series of unfortunate events for Chicago led to them being unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities, despite several momentum swings throughout the game. Mikheyev’s short-handed goal was a bright spot for the team, demonstrating resilience amidst a challenging season.
While Chicago struggled to find their footing, interim head coach Anders Sorensen remarked post-game, “I thought we competed hard.” This remark reflects the ongoing efforts of the Blackhawks to contend despite their setbacks and speaks to the need for better consistency as they look ahead.
Moving forward, both teams are scheduled to meet again on March 23, 2025. The Blackhawks look to regroup as they host the Philadelphia Flyers, while the Blues face off against the Nashville Predators.
This latest victory continues the Blues' momentum toward playoff contention, while the Blackhawks face the grim reality of their recent performance—having been eliminated from postseason contention just two days prior on March 20, 2025. This loss crystallizes the challenges faced by Chicago as they attempt to rebuild and reassess their strategies heading into next season.
As the NHL season presses on, fans will keenly watch how both teams respond after this heated rivalry game. The stakes remain high, with every game pivotal for teams striving for playoff positions or personal triumphs as in Maroon's emotional farewell.
