In his return to the Chicago Blackhawks, Teuvo Teravainen showed that he fits the team perfectly, contributing two goals and two assists in a dazzling 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. Teravainen, who was originally drafted by the Blackhawks in 2012 and recently returned to the team as a free-agent signing after eight years with the Carolina Hurricanes, has been making a significant impact early in the season with three goals and two assists in his first three games back with the Hawks.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Teravainen commented, “We played a good team game tonight. They lost their first one too, so we knew they were going to go hard on us today. We played good defense, battled for the pucks, blocked shots, and (goalie Petr Mrazek) was good. We played simple road hockey and just tried to make plays. We had been watching video and talking about what’s been going well and what’s been going wrong, so we made better plays today.”
Mrazek, who made 36 saves in the game, earned praise from his teammates. Connor Bedard, Teravainen’s linemate, commended Mrazek’s performance, stating, “He was unbelievable, and he really held it down in net there. We have to give him credit.”
Bedard himself had a stellar showcasing, recording a goal and two assists to bring his season total to five points. In a head-to-head matchup against Edmonton’s Connor McDavid, Bedard emerged victorious in the “Clash of the Connors,” with McDavid being limited to just one assist in the game.
Coach Luke Richardson expressed satisfaction with his team’s effort, noting, “I thought we were very determined, stuck to the game plan that we had been working on since that first period of the first game. It was very consistent, which I like. I thought the guys hung in there tight against a strong, powerful offensive team, and obviously Petr was great for us again in the net.”
The Blackhawks’ victory over the Oilers showcased their resilience, teamwork, and strong individual performances, setting a positive tone for the remainder of the season. With Teravainen leading the charge and Mrazek standing strong in goal, Chicago appears to be a formidable force to contend with in the NHL.