Young Blackhawks Visit Devils, Aim to 'Grow and Get Better'

Chicago looks to rebound after back-to-back lopsided losses as New Jersey tries to bounce back from frustrating defeat against Carolina.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 4:24pm

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The struggling Chicago Blackhawks, led by a young roster, will visit the New Jersey Devils in a matchup of teams outside the playoff picture. The Blackhawks have been outscored 11-2 in their last two games, while the Devils are coming off a 5-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Both teams are hoping to use the remaining games to develop their young talent and finish the season on a positive note.

Why it matters

The Blackhawks and Devils are both in rebuilding mode, with Chicago in the third season since drafting superstar Connor Bedard and New Jersey looking to take the next step after a disappointing loss to Carolina. This game provides an opportunity for the young players on both teams to gain valuable NHL experience and showcase their development as the season winds down.

The details

The Blackhawks have been struggling lately, losing back-to-back games to the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers by a combined score of 11-2. Chicago coach Jeff Blashill acknowledged the challenge of having so many rookies in the lineup, saying the team needs to 'learn to play a little smarter when we're tired.' Meanwhile, the Devils are coming off a frustrating 5-2 loss to the Hurricanes, with forward Connor Brown noting the team needs to better manage its emotions against familiar foes.

  • The Blackhawks and Devils will face off on Sunday, March 29, 2026.
  • The Blackhawks have played on back-to-back nights three times since March 8, contributing to fatigue.
  • The Devils are coming off a 5-2 loss to the Hurricanes on Saturday, the finale of a five-game road trip.

The players

Connor Bedard

Superstar center selected first overall by the Blackhawks in the 2023 NHL Draft.

Jeff Blashill

Head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks.

Tyler Bertuzzi

Forward for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Connor Brown

Forward for the New Jersey Devils.

Jacob Markstrom

Goaltender for the New Jersey Devils.

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What they’re saying

“We have a whole bunch of guys going through the NHL schedule for the first time, much less this condensed schedule. It's a hard challenge for a group that's as young as we are, but we've got to respond to the challenge. We've got to take these opportunities to grow and get better.”

— Jeff Blashill, Head Coach, Chicago Blackhawks

“I don't know if it's just such a young team, immaturity and we can't put it together, but it's on everyone. It's on us older guys to show the lead and have them follow. As a group, everyone, the last few games, we have not been good at all.”

— Tyler Bertuzzi, Forward, Chicago Blackhawks

“Some emotions got high and were just handled poorly throughout the game. Hockey's an emotional game. You're playing at such a high speed. It's violent. When you have scars against a team, sometimes it can be that much harder to manage. So, it's a big learning moment for this team. To learn, you have to identify what's going wrong.”

— Connor Brown, Forward, New Jersey Devils

What’s next

The Blackhawks and Devils will look to bounce back from their recent losses and use the remaining games to develop their young talent and build momentum heading into the offseason.

The takeaway

This matchup between the struggling Blackhawks and Devils provides an opportunity for both teams to evaluate their young players and identify areas for improvement as they work to rebuild and return to playoff contention in the coming seasons.