Blackhawks Fall to Predators in OT Despite Bears Coach's Presence

Chicago's NHL team loses 3-2 in a back-and-forth affair, their fourth loss in five games.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 11:37pm

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The Chicago Blackhawks fell to the Nashville Predators 3-2 in overtime on Sunday, despite the presence of Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson, who was in attendance. The Blackhawks, led by first-year coach Jeff Blashill, gave a mixed performance with highlight plays, offensive zone giveaways, and a goal from star center Connor Bedard. However, they were unable to secure the victory, with the Predators' Filip Forsberg scoring the game-winning goal in overtime.

Why it matters

The loss marks the Blackhawks' fourth in five games, raising concerns about the team's performance and their ability to secure wins, especially in overtime situations. The presence of Bears coach Ben Johnson, who was treated to a shoutout by the Blackhawks faithful, added an interesting subplot to the game, as the two Chicago sports teams continue to navigate their respective seasons.

The details

The Blackhawks took an early lead in the second period when Connor Bedard collected a long pass from Ryan Greene and used a set of stick moves to beat goaltender Juuse Saros. However, the Predators' Filip Forsberg scored twice, including the game-winning goal in overtime, to give Nashville the victory. Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill acknowledged the team's struggles in overtime, stating that if they had been better in those situations, their record would be much better.

  • The game took place on Sunday, March 22, 2026.
  • Bedard's goal came at 13:57 in the second period.
  • Forsberg's first goal came at 6:31 in the second period.
  • Forsberg's game-winning goal came in overtime.

The players

Ben Johnson

The head coach of the Chicago Bears, who was in attendance at the game and received a shoutout from the Blackhawks faithful.

Jeff Blashill

The first-year head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks, who acknowledged the team's struggles in overtime.

Connor Bedard

The star center for the Chicago Blackhawks, who scored the team's lone goal in the game.

Ryan Greene

A Blackhawks player whose ice vision and ability to complement Bedard were praised by coach Blashill.

Filip Forsberg

The Nashville Predators left winger who scored the game-winning goal in overtime.

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What they’re saying

“If our overtimes had been better, our record (would) be much better. I certainly recognize that, but we got a lot of other things that we're looking at as well and that we need to continue to improve on.”

— Jeff Blashill, Head Coach, Chicago Blackhawks

“You get a chance every day to build your resume and he's done a good job of building that in a positive fashion. He's not chaotic in his game, his game's pretty calm and he's pretty smart so that helps him play with a guy like (Bedard) because he can read off him.”

— Jeff Blashill, Head Coach, Chicago Blackhawks

“I want to show my strengths when I get that opportunity. I thought (my line) generated chances and didn't give up a whole lot.”

— Nick Lardis, Forward, Chicago Blackhawks

“It's never easy to lose a guy like that, minutes-wise but also within the locker room, he's a big part of our team. To have him go down was a tough loss, but I thought everybody did a great job of stepping up.”

— Alex Vlasic, Defenseman, Chicago Blackhawks

“(Levshunov's) been playing some really good hockey. He's been playing hard, playing good defense-first, and we've been having some success, so it's been fun.”

— Alex Vlasic, Defenseman, Chicago Blackhawks

What’s next

The Blackhawks will look to bounce back on their upcoming road trip, which starts with a game against the New York Islanders on March 24. Prospects Anton Frondell and Sacha Boisvert are expected to make their NHL debuts during the road trip, providing a potential boost to the team.

The takeaway

The Blackhawks' overtime struggles continue to plague them, as they fell to the Predators in a back-and-forth affair despite the presence of Bears coach Ben Johnson. The team will need to find ways to secure wins in overtime if they hope to improve their record and make a push for the playoffs. The development of young players like Ryan Greene and the potential debuts of Frondell and Boisvert could provide a spark for the struggling Blackhawks.