SEATTLE — Blackhawks rookie forward Nick Lardis’ surging confidence is evident not only in his play on-ice but also in his interviews off-ice.
He sounds more assertive and comfortable than he did earlier this season.
“I’m finding my confidence more and more every game,” Lardis said Saturday. “[I’m] finding my stride. I’m feeling really good with the systems and everything.”
Everything is coming up Lardis right now, including an apparent hand injury suffered Thursday against the Oilers that turned out to be inconsequential.
He has tallied four goals in his last seven games, increasing his NHL season total to nine goals in 35 games (entering Saturday against the Kraken). He’s now tied with Ryan Greene for eighth on the Hawks in that regard, and Greene has played more than twice as many games.
Lardis’ goal total would likely be even higher, too, if he had played all along in the top six like he has lately. Coach Jeff Blashill made him wait patiently for that opportunity.
“That’s what you’ve got to do as a young guy in the NHL: gain the coach’s trust,” Lardis said. “He put me in a position where I had to obviously earn it, and it was motivating for me. I loved the challenge. I’m not saying I’m going to be in the top six for[ever], but I’m not taking it for granted.”
Quick release
Lardis has made a concerted effort to get more often into dirty areas around the net, which is where he has scored his last two goals (against the Oilers and Rangers).
His elite shooting and finishing is what got him here, though, so that needs to remain a key part of his game.
He 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.
Nick Lardis said he wished he released this shot faster to give Hellebuyck less time to challenge: pic.twitter.com/poou9xaVOY
— Ben Pope’s Video Clips (@BenPopeCSTclips) April 4, 2026
“I tried to wait and pick my corner rather than…getting it to the far side of the net quick, which I probably should’ve done, watching it back,” Lardis said. “But that’s a learning [lesson].
“It doesn’t really get in my head. If I miss a chance like that, it’s not like I’m thinking about it the whole game. It’s just good to know if there’s another opportunity that comes up.”
Faceoff to stoppage
Hawks fans may have recently noticed their team doing something strange from time to time: Winning a defensive-zone faceoff, then immediately handing the puck to their goalie (either Spencer Knight or Arvid Soderblom) to cover for a stoppage and another faceoff.
Blashill has actually instructed them to do this in a specific scenario: After icings in the second period.
Icings 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.
“I actually learned that from [Lightning coach Jon Cooper],” Blashill said recently. “We did a good job of it in Tampa. Generally, you’re way better off getting guys off the ice that are tired.”
Whenever the Blackhawks ice the puck in the 2nd period, then win the DZ faceoff, they give the puck to the goalie to freeze.
Jeff Blashill said that’s an instruction. It’s worth giving up guaranteed possession. “You’re way better off getting guys off the ice that are tired.” pic.twitter.com/8vRFlA9ffy
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) April 3, 2026
The Hawks’ 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.
However, they’ve also iced the puck 329 times this season (entering Saturday), which is 10th-most, so the safer decision might be wise.