{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "bskyPostRef": {
    "cid": "bafyreicgwhdxpivsehsikqek2l4hzxuvkvkfueitrhcspviozz3qz6dnhm",
    "uri": "at://did:plc:ha7wpngv4f2qwrk5hta4ktbb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mipecbcnhgv2"
  },
  "coverImage": {
    "$type": "blob",
    "ref": {
      "$link": "bafkreig2blydrzj4ebsmez2sneqyzdive6grbjqklkynk7n2wab3f65eiu"
    },
    "mimeType": "image/jpeg",
    "size": 277512
  },
  "path": "/blackhawks/2026/04/04/blackhawks-nick-lardis-confidence-surging-score-in-nhl-connor-hellebuyck",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-04T21:48:09.444Z",
  "site": "https://chicago.suntimes.com",
  "tags": [
    "@BenPopeCSTclips",
    "@BenPopeCST"
  ],
  "textContent": "<p>SEATTLE — <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks\" target=\"_blank\" >Blackhawks</a> rookie forward <b>Nick Lardis’</b> surging confidence is evident not only in his play but also in his interviews.</p><p>He sounds more assertive and comfortable than he did earlier in the season.</p><p>‘‘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.’’</p><p>Everything is coming up Lardis’ way right now, including an apparent hand injury suffered <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2026/04/02/blackhawks-oilers-playoff-contention-eliminated-landon-slaggert-adam-gajan\" target=\"_blank\" >Thursday</a> against the Oilers that turned out to be inconsequential.</p><p>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 <b>Ryan Greene</b> for eighth on the Hawks, and Greene has played more than twice as many games.</p><p>Lardis’ goal total likely would be higher, too, if he had played all along in the top six, as he has lately. Coach <b>Jeff Blashill</b> made him <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2026/03/18/blackhawks-nick-lardis-usage-jeff-blashill-connor-bedard-andre-burakovsky\" target=\"_blank\" >wait</a> for that opportunity.</p><p>‘‘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.’’</p><h3>Quick release</h3><p>Lardis has made a concerted effort to get into dirty areas around the net more often. That’s where he has scored his last two goals (against the Oilers and Rangers).</p><p>His elite shooting and finishing is what got him to the NHL, however, so that must remain a key part of his game.</p><p>Lardis has learned that releasing shots quickly is the best way to beat NHL goalies. He tried to wait out Jets goalie <b>Connor Hellebuyck</b> on a golden scoring chance Tuesday, but that just gave Hellebucyk more time to challenge and cut down the angle.</p><div class=\"Enhancement\" data-align-center><div class=\"Enhancement-item\"> <div class=\"ExternalContent-wrapper\" > <div class=\"TweetUrl\"> <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Nick Lardis said he wished he released this shot faster to give Hellebuyck less time to challenge: <a href=\"https://t.co/poou9xaVOY\">pic.twitter.com/poou9xaVOY</a></p>— Ben Pope’s Video Clips (@BenPopeCSTclips) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/BenPopeCSTclips/status/2040536687898746883?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 4, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script> </div> </div> </div></div><p>‘‘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].</p><p>‘‘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.’’</p><p></p><h3>Faceoff to stoppage</h3><p></p><p>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 (<b>Spencer Knight</b> or <b>Arvid Soderblom</b>) to cover for a stoppage and another faceoff.</p><p></p><p>Blashill has instructed them to do this in a specific scenario: after icing calls in the second period.</p><p></p><p>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><p></p><p>‘‘I actually learned that from [Lightning coach <b>Jon Cooper</b>],’’ 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.’’</p><div class=\"Enhancement\" data-align-center><div class=\"Enhancement-item\"> <div class=\"ExternalContent-wrapper\" > <div class=\"TweetUrl\"> <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Whenever the Blackhawks ice the puck in the 2nd period, then win the DZ faceoff, they give the puck to the goalie to freeze.<br><br>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.” <a href=\"https://t.co/8vRFlA9ffy\">pic.twitter.com/8vRFlA9ffy</a></p>— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/BenPopeCST/status/2040135778177814903?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script> </div> </div> </div></div><p>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.</p><p>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>",
  "title": "Nick Lardis' confidence surging with Blackhawks as he learns how to score in NHL",
  "updatedAt": "2026-04-04T22:50:41.042Z"
}