Blackhawks notes: Nick Lardis delivers when given bigger opportunity

Jeff Blashill finally gave Blackhawks rookie forward Nick Lardis an opportunity on the second line Sunday, and Lardis promptly rewarded his faith.

“That was Nick’s best game since he’s been up,” Blashill said after the Hawks’ 3-2 overtime loss to the Predators.

Lardis scored his sixth goal of the season on a second-period rush when his attempted pass to Frank Nazar deflected in off Nicolas Hague.

The Hawks also controlled play during most of his shifts with Nazar and Bertuzzi, outshooting the Predators 6-3. His total ice time (13:28) still wasn’t enormous, but it was nonetheless the highest it has been during his second NHL stint.

“I just want to show my strengths when I get that opportunity,” Lardis said. “I thought I was skating pretty well tonight, [and] we generated a decent amount of chances.”

Blashill has pushed Lardis to instinctively move his feet whenever he gets the puck, and the coach agreed he took a step forward with that Sunday.

Frondell coming

The Hawks and top prospect Anton Frondell are working out flight logistics to get him over to North America. He could make his NHL debut as soon as Tuesday at the Islanders.

“Based on the level of play he’s had all year, how well he played the last part of the year and the fact there’s zero practice time this time of year, I’m going to throw him into the fire,” Blashill said.

Blashill later said he would like to give rookie forward Ryan Greene some time at center down the stretch, which implies Frondell could take Greene’s spot on Connor Bedard’s line.

That would mean Andre Burakovsky, who has become a lightning rod for fan criticism due to Blashill’s endless support of him despite his mere two points in his last 26 games, would keep his first-line spot alongside Bedard and Frondell.

Grzelcyk injured

Louis Crevier returned to the Hawks’ lineup Sunday after missing Friday due to injury, but then Matt Grzelcyk suffered a bizarre upper-body injury early in the first period. Grzelcyk will miss the upcoming four-game road trip, Blashill said.

The Hawks’ remaining five defensemen all ate a bunch of minutes as a result. Alex Vlasic played a season-high 26:34, Artyom Levshunov topped 24 minutes and Wyatt Kaiser — who had an atypically turnover-laden afternoon — exceeded 23.

“We had a few moments where we had self-errors that we didn’t need to have,” Blashill said. “But it’s a lot of minutes and a lot of young ‘D.’ They overall did a good job.”

Oilers struggling

When the Hawks traded Connor Murphy and Jason Dickinson to the Oilers, both veterans were excited about the opportunity to finally participate in the playoffs.

They probably still will, but it wouldn’t seem so likely if the Oilers played in any division besides the Pacific. Entering Sunday, their 77 points ranked second in the Pacific but would’ve ranked fifth in the Central or seventh in the Atlantic or Metropolitan.

“We’re fortunate to play in this division,” a candid Connor McDavid told reporters Saturday in Edmonton. “It’s a bit of a pillow fight right now.”

The Oilers have gone a mediocre 4-4-1 since executing the two trades with the Hawks, which at least haven’t been as disastrous for them as their acquisition of goalie Tristan Jarry from the Penguins earlier this season.

Murphy has one goal and a minus-five rating in the nine games, while Dickinson has one goal, one assist and a minus-two rating. Colton Dach made just three appearances before aggravating an injury.