{"id":565765,"date":"2026-04-05T09:35:18","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T09:35:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/565765\/"},"modified":"2026-04-05T09:35:18","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T09:35:18","slug":"nick-lardis-confidence-surging-with-blackhawks-as-he-learns-how-to-score-in-nhl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/565765\/","title":{"rendered":"Nick Lardis’ confidence surging with Blackhawks as he learns how to score in NHL"},"content":{"rendered":"

SEATTLE \u2014 Blackhawks<\/a> rookie forward Nick Lardis\u2019 surging confidence is evident not only in his play but also in his interviews.<\/p>\n

He sounds more assertive and comfortable than he did earlier in the season.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2018I\u2019m finding my confidence more and more every game,\u2019\u2019 Lardis said Saturday. \u2018\u2018[I\u2019m] finding my stride. I\u2019m feeling really good with the systems and everything.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Everything is coming up Lardis\u2019 way right now, including an apparent hand injury suffered Thursday<\/a> against the Oilers that turned out to be inconsequential.<\/p>\n

He has four goals in his last seven games, increasing his season total to nine in 35 NHL games (entering play Saturday against the Kraken). That ties him with forward Ryan Greene for eighth on the Hawks, and Greene has played more than twice as many games.<\/p>\n

Lardis\u2019 goal total likely would be higher, too, if he had played all along in the top six, as he has lately. Coach Jeff Blashill made him wait<\/a> for that opportunity.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2018That\u2019s what you\u2019ve got to do as a young guy in the NHL: gain the coach\u2019s trust,\u2019\u2019 Lardis said. \u2018\u2018He put me in a position where I had to obviously earn it, and it was motivating for me. I loved the challenge. I\u2019m not saying I\u2019m going to be in the top six for[ever], but I\u2019m not taking it for granted.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Quick release<\/p>\n

Lardis has made a concerted effort to get into dirty areas around the net more often. That\u2019s where he has scored his last two goals (against the Oilers and Rangers).<\/p>\n

His elite shooting and finishing is what got him to the NHL, however, so that must remain a key part of his game.<\/p>\n

Lardis has learned that releasing shots quickly is the best way to beat NHL goalies. He tried to wait out Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck on a golden scoring chance Tuesday, but that just gave Hellebucyk more time to challenge and cut down the angle.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2018I tried to wait and pick my corner rather than . . . getting it to the far side of the net quick, which I probably should\u2019ve done, watching it back,\u2019\u2019 Lardis said. \u2018\u2018But that\u2019s a learning [lesson].<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2018It doesn\u2019t really get in my head. If I miss a chance like that, it\u2019s not like I\u2019m thinking about it the whole game. It\u2019s just good to know if there\u2019s another opportunity that comes up.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Faceoff to stoppage<\/p>\n

Fans recently might have noticed the Hawks doing something strange from time to time: winning a defensive-zone faceoff, then immediately steering the puck to their goalie (Spencer Knight or Arvid Soderblom) to cover for a stoppage and another faceoff.<\/p>\n

Blashill has instructed them to do this in a specific scenario: after icing calls in the second period.<\/p>\n

Icing calls prevent line changes, and the long distance between the defensive zone and the bench makes on-the-fly changes riskiest during the second period. So instead of counting on getting the puck out and deep, the Hawks are willing to give up a guaranteed possession for a guaranteed change.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2018I actually learned that from [Lightning coach Jon Cooper],\u2019\u2019 Blashill said recently. \u2018\u2018We did a good job of it in Tampa. Generally, you\u2019re way better off getting guys off the ice that are tired.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Whenever the Blackhawks ice the puck in the 2nd period, then win the DZ faceoff, they give the puck to the goalie to freeze.<\/p>\n

Jeff Blashill said that\u2019s an instruction. It\u2019s worth giving up guaranteed possession. \u201cYou\u2019re way better off getting guys off the ice that are tired.\u201d pic.twitter.com\/8vRFlA9ffy<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) April 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The Hawks\u2019 odds of gaining possession again off the next faceoff are not great, considering they rank 31st in the NHL with a 46.1% team faceoff percentage.<\/p>\n

But they also have iced the puck 329 times this season (entering play Saturday), which is the 10th-most in the league, so the safer decision might be wise.<\/p>\n