Chicago Blackhawks still searching for first win as Jason Dickinson suffers injury

In Thursday night’s matchup against the Boston Bruins, the Chicago Blackhawks put up another solid effort but couldn’t find a way to secure their first win of the season. Adding to their frustration, forward Jason Dickinson left the game in the second period due to an injury and didn’t return.

Shortly after Dickinson’s exit, the team announced he was ruled out for the remainder of the game. His absence was immediately felt, especially given his role as the center of Chicago’s third line alongside Ilya Mikheyev and Ryan Donato.

Head coach Jeff Blashill, who is still looking for his first victory behind the Blackhawks’ bench, didn’t have a clear update following the game.

“I’ll know more tomorrow,” Blashill said after the loss. “No real update yet. Obviously, he didn’t finish the game, so that’s not great. We’ll see where it goes.”

The uncertainty surrounding Dickinson’s status adds another concern to the Blackhawks’ growing list of early-season challenges. The veteran forward, who has battled injuries before, played just 59 games last season due to various setbacks.

At this point, the hope in Chicago is that his latest injury isn’t serious, especially since Dickinson plays such an important role in both even-strength and penalty-kill situations.

Chicago Blackhawks lineup changes expected before home opener

With Jason Dickinson potentially sidelined, the Chicago Blackhawks may need to shuffle their forward lines before their home opener against the Montreal Canadiens.

If Dickinson is unavailable, rookie Ryan Greene is the likely candidate to move up to the third-line center position. Greene has shown flashes of confidence and composure early in the season and could thrive with the additional ice time.

That would leave an opening on the fourth line, meaning the Blackhawks could recall another forward from the Rockford IceHogs ahead of Saturday’s matchup. A player like Colton Dach or Samuel Savoie, who both impressed during training camp, could be on standby for a call-up.

The timing couldn’t be tougher. The Montreal Canadiens are coming off a commanding 5-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings, and their young lineup has been playing with high energy and pace. Chicago, on the other hand, will be desperate to turn things around in front of their home crowd at the United Center.

While Blashill’s group has shown improvement in structure and effort, finishing games strongly has been their biggest hurdle. In both losses so far, the team created good scoring chances but couldn’t capitalize when it mattered most.

The absence of Dickinson, one of the Blackhawks’ most experienced and defensively reliable forwards, could make things even trickier, especially against a fast-skating team like Montreal.

Chicago Blackhawks aim to bounce back at home

Despite the rocky start, there are positives for the Chicago Blackhawks to build on. Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, and Tyler Bertuzzi have all generated strong offensive pressure, while defensemen Alex Vlasic and Sam Rinzel have shown encouraging chemistry on the back end.

Goaltender Spencer Knight has also been solid, keeping the team competitive in both outings.

Still, Chicago needs to find a way to close games and get that first win under Jeff Blashill, something that could set the tone for the rest of their season.

The team’s upcoming matchup against the Canadiens presents a big opportunity to do just that. Playing in front of their home fans for the first time this season, the Blackhawks will look to channel that energy and secure their first victory of the year.

But to do so, they’ll need players to step up in Dickinson’s absence, and quickly.

As Blashill and his staff evaluate lineup options, one thing remains certain: this Chicago Blackhawks team is still learning, still growing, and still fighting to establish its identity.

And even with early adversity, there’s a sense around the locker room that their first win is coming soon.