Blackhawks build 3-goal lead, extend Stars' skid to 4
Jan 1, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Dallas Stars defenseman Esa Lindell (23) defends Chicago Blackhawks right wing Ilya Mikheyev (95) as he scores a goal on goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) during the second period at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images Ilya Mikheyev scored twice for the Chicago Blackhawks, who held on for a 4-3 win against the visiting Dallas Stars on Thursday.
Artyom Levshunov and Teuvo Teravainen each scored a power-play goal and Andre Burakovsky and Ryan Donato had two assists apiece for the Blackhawks, who won for just the second time in their past 10 games (2-7-1). Spencer Knight made 22 saves.
Mikko Rantanen, Jason Robertson and Matt Duchene each had a goal and an assist, and Jake Oettinger made 17 saves for the Stars, who have lost four straight (0-2-2) for the second time this season.
Levshunov gave Chicago a 1-0 lead at 11:48 of the first period. Oettinger stopped his initial shot but with a scramble in the crease, the rebound squirted out for Burakovsky, who collected it in the slot and dished a short backhand feed to Levshunov for a wrist shot that beat Oettinger glove side.
Rantanen tied it three minutes later. He gathered a pass from Sam Steel at the offensive blue line, went down the left side and then cut to the front of the net and lifted a backhand off the right post and in at 14:42.
Teravainen scored 13 seconds into the second period to put the Blackhawks ahead 2-1. Burakovsky spotted him uncovered in the slot, and Teravainen quickly buried a snap shot glove side.
Mikheyev made it 3-1 when he collected the puck above the left circle, took it to the middle and, holding off defenseman Esa Lindell, to the front of the net before putting it under Oettinger's right pad at 9:14.
Mikheyev extended the lead to 4-1 at 3:58 of the third period, firing a wrist shot from low in the right circle that trickled through the five-hole.
With Oettinger pulled for the extra attacker, Robertson cut it to 4-2 at 16:03 with his team-leading 24th goal. Rantanen found him on the back door for the easy tap in stick side, and Duchene narrowed it to 4-3 at 19:42 with a one-timer from the right circle.
--Field Level Media
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