Can the Blackhawks end the preseason on a high note?

The Blackhawks head into their final preseason game of the 2025-26 season against their longtime rivals, the St. Louis Blues, Saturday.

The Blackhawks fell short in their last outing against the Minnesota Wild, losing 3-2. Despite this, they had a great game overall, starting strong and showing a lot of physicality, particularly from Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy.

Now the big question heading into their preseason game Saturday is, "Can Chicago finish the preseason with a statement win?" Also, "Can they get the power play off to a great start?"

It's been a frustrating stretch for the Hawks' special teams. After going 0-for-6 on the power play against the Detroit Red Wings on Sept. 30 and 0-for-3 against Minnesota on Oct. 3, the team is now 0-for-9 in their last two games. Despite some creative zone entries and good puck movement from players like Connor Bedard and Ryan Donato, the Hawks' power play has been dreadful for most of the preseason.

This is their chance to find the back of the net against a Blues team that finished 28th on the penalty kill last season. With the regular season right around the corner, now is the time to build momentum, especially with a new coach in Jeff Blashill and a new structure and tone for the Blackhawks' rebuild.

Narrative Takeaway: Physical Identity Stepped Up, but Power Play Lacks

The Blackhawks showed their physical side of their game with 16 hits in their 3-2 loss to the Wild, including two massive hits from Connor Murphy in the second period.

Those two hits set the tone of that game. They also served as a reminder that while this team is still young, they won't go down without a fight.

The Blackhawks dominated the third period, outshooting the Wild 16-3. They had several high-danger scoring chances in the final seconds from Connor Bedard, Sam Rinzel, and other Blackhawks players, but weren't able to get that game-tying goal.

The Wild's special teams are what powered them to their 3-2 win. Can the Blackhawks do the same with their power play? Can their special teams help them close out this preseason game on a high note?

The Blackhawks are looking to turn their confidence into results, and it starts against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday.

Puck drop is at 7 p.m. CDT on CHSN (local) and ESPN+ (out of market). Fans can also listen on WGN Radio 720.