Blackhawks fall in overtime despite Knight's 30 saves and Bedard's 29th goal
The Chicago Blackhawks fell 3-2 in overtime to the Nashville Predators on March 22, 2026. Despite a strong second-period effort, the team couldn't secure the win in Week 22 of the NHL season. Goaltender Spencer Knight made 30 saves, but Nashville's late push forced extra time.
The Blackhawks entered the game after a 2-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild on March 20. Against Nashville, they found their rhythm in the second period, scoring twice to take a temporary lead. Nick Lardis netted his sixth goal of the season, delivering his best performance since joining the team.
Connor Bedard also contributed, scoring his 29th goal and moving within one point of his career-high 67 points. Defenceman Alex Vlasic played a season-high 26:34, adding an assist to his strong defensive display. Meanwhile, the penalty kill unit stayed perfect, going 3-for-3 and maintaining the league's top ranking at 84.4%. The Blackhawks now prepare for a busy stretch. Their next home game is against the Winnipeg Jets on March 31 at the United Center. After that, they hit the road for matchups with the New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers, and New Jersey Devils.
The loss keeps Chicago searching for consistency as the season progresses. Knight's 30-save effort and key contributions from Bedard and Lardis weren't enough to overcome Nashville's late surge. The team will look to regroup before facing Winnipeg in their next outing.
