Chicago's power play broke the game open, their blocked-shot discipline slammed it shut, and Seattle's special teams failure made the difference between a comeback and a collapse.
Chicago's power play broke a scoreless deadlock and handed Seattle a two-goal hole it never fully escaped, making a road victory for a lottery-bound Blackhawks team the defining story of this Pacific Division elimination race game. Execution gaps at even strength and below-average goaltending margin cost Seattle two points it desperately needed.
⚡TURNING POINT
Teravainen's power-play goal at 9:15 of the second period was the first score in a locked, 0-0 game — converting Seattle's penalty into a momentum shift that forced the Kraken out of their defensive structure. Chicago then buried a second goal before the period ended, meaning Seattle needed a comeback against a team that had no intention of playing loose.
🏆WHY CHI WON
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Special teams created the margin: Chicago converted 1-of-3 power plays while Seattle went 0-for-2, a two-goal swing that decided a two-goal game.
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Chicago's penalty killers and defensive structure held — 20 blocked shots removed sustained Seattle pressure before it could generate grade-A looks.
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Soderblom conceded 0.70 goals fewer than league average on 27 shots, absorbing Seattle's third-period push without yielding a tying goal.
📉WHY SEA LOST
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Seattle's 0-for-2 power play failed to produce any equalizing momentum on their best scoring opportunities.
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Grubauer conceded exactly average on 30 shots — 0.00 goals above or below the mean — meaning Seattle received no goaltending dividend in a game they needed one.
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Losing faceoffs 55.4% to 44.6% denied Seattle reliable zone establishment, limiting offensive zone time when trailing.
Three Stars
Jaden Schwartz1st
SEA, L
1G 1A2 pointsTOI 14:08
Schwartz generated both of Seattle's third-period goals directly, but his impact arrived too late against a two-goal deficit.
Sacha Boisvert2nd
CHI, C
1G2 SOGTOI 9:18+1
Boisvert scored the critical insurance goal at 13:08 of the third — converting in under 10 minutes of ice time and re-extending the lead immediately after Seattle cut it to one.
Tyler Bertuzzi3rd
CHI, L
1G3 SOGTOI 18:46+1
Bertuzzi closed out the second period with an even-strength goal that doubled Chicago's lead and effectively forced Seattle into chase mode entering the final frame.
