In a thrilling match that showcased both skill and determination, Drew Commesso achieved his first NHL victory by making an impressive 36 saves, leading the Chicago Blackhawks to a solid 3-0 win over the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday night. This marked Commesso's inaugural NHL win during only his fourth game, as he previously faced the Washington Capitals where he recorded 19 saves despite a 5-1 defeat.
Reflecting on his achievement, Commesso stated, "I think I’ll remember it as my first career win more (than the shutout). It was just a big win for the team, especially after the game last night where I don’t think any of us were happy with how it went, how we played. For us to respond like that, really just timely goals. [Chicago forward Nick Lardis] getting that big second goal was huge and us surviving that long shift there at the end. Just a total team effort." His sentiment captures the essence of teamwork in sports, emphasizing how victories are often a collective effort.
The Blackhawks improved their record to 19-19-7, claiming five victories out of their last six games. Tyler Bertuzzi contributed significantly with one goal and one assist, while the talented Connor Bedard recorded two assists. Chicago's head coach, Jeff Blashill, commented on Bedard’s performance, saying, "I thought [Bedard] would look more comfortable tonight than last night, and he’s going to look more comfortable in the next game than tonight. It’s just the reality of being out for a long time and kind of getting your groove back a little bit."
On the other side, the Predators, now holding a record of 20-20-4, struggled to find their rhythm, with goaltender Juuse Saros making 18 saves. Nashville captain Roman Josi expressed disappointment, noting, "Definitely not our best. It felt like it was just a 50-50 game. We kind of left it up to chance. They got that first one, and we just never got to our game really. Maybe for a couple of minutes, but not for a long period."
The game saw Bertuzzi opening the scoring with a power-play goal at 6:41 of the second period, displaying a clever play where Bedard set him up perfectly for an open-net shot. Later, Lardis extended the lead to 2-0 with a wrist shot from the slot, capitalizing on another assist from Bedard.
Commesso humbly acknowledged his faith and preparation as key factors in achieving this milestone. "I’m so blessed and thankful to God just for putting me in this situation. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without him. I think a big thing has just been my faith and always staying even-keeled when things aren’t going well, and when things are going well just to always be thankful and grateful for him. Something I’ve learned about pro hockey is there’s just a lot out of your control. I went from not even playing in the [Rockford of the American Hockey League] game on Friday to starting for the [Blackhawks] in back-to-back games. You never know. It’s just good to lean back on my preparation when I need it."
Ryan Greene sealed the game with an empty-net goal at 18:32, concluding with a final score of 3-0. Following the loss, Nashville coach Andrew Brunette emphasized the need for sharper execution, stating, "You go back to work tomorrow. We haven’t done this very often. I don’t know if a little fatigue set in, which shouldn’t be an excuse. They played the night before. We just weren’t sharp enough. We didn’t execute at the level that we normally execute."
Notably, Commesso became only the fourth goaltender in the history of the Blackhawks franchise to secure a shutout in his first NHL victory, joining the ranks of Corey Crawford, Craig Anderson, and Paul Goodman. Furthermore, Bedard recorded his 41st career multipoint game, tying with legendary players Jeremy Roenick and Eddie Olczyk for the second-most multipoint games by a Chicago player under the age of 21, trailing only Denis Savard.
In terms of player availability, Blackhawks’ netminders Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom, along with defenseman Louis Crevier, were sidelined due to illness. Meanwhile, Predator Nicolas Hague celebrated his 400th NHL game, although teammate Jonathan Marchessault missed his 11th consecutive game due to a lower-body injury.
As we celebrate the triumphs and face the challenges of the season, what do you think about the young talent showcased in this game? Do you believe that teams should rely more on emerging players like Commesso and Bedard, or is it better to lean on seasoned veterans? Share your thoughts!
