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# Yesterday's Costume: A Good Hockey Team in Boston
- URL: https://stevekwrites.com/recap-chicago-blackhawks-at-boston-bruins-oct-31-2026/
- Published: 2026-11-01T21:25:38.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-01T21:25:38.000Z
- Description: Recapping the Blackhawks 5-4 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins.
- Author: Steve Kwiatkowski
- Tags: Eat The Hatchet, Game Recaps

Happy Halloween. 

The Chicago Blackhawks played one of their best games in a long time on Saturday. Even though they lost 5-4 in overtime to the Boston Bruins, they owned the majority in 5-on-5 shot attempt share (Corsi), expected goals share, shots on goal, and high danger chances. 

Initially, I wanted to just pick one positive thing, focus on that, and have the positive observation be the article. But Chicago's problems are still blaring enough that they're worth mentioning. So, I'm including a negative and won't spend too much time there because, well, we all know that song and dance by now. 

## Anton Frondell

Let's start with the positive.

I'm still not convinced that Frondell really should be playing center, but Jeff Blashill sees otherwise. He continues to match Frondell up against the league's toughest competition. Frondell posted a 72 percent Corsi against Boston's top line (Pavel Zacha centering JJ Peterka and David Pastrnak). 

Frondell also scored two goals, including his beautiful one-timer on the power play. 

0:00 

/0:17 

1× 

Frondell's second goal of the season.

Frondell's line with Tyler Bertuzzi and Andrew Mangiapane posted the best metrics on the Hawks with a 71 percent Corsi and a 78 percent expected goals share. 

I was a little surprised by Frondell's individual metrics at 5-on-5 because I thought they would be higher. He had three scoring chances, five shot attempts (Bedard had seven), and four shots on goal. 

And check out this sweet move ([clip courtesy of @BlackhawksFocus on X](https://x.com/BlackhawksFocus/status/2116586112097403296?a=clHY0ISH0Tg08l%5FJfSk&s=20&ref=stevekwrites.com)).

0:00 

/0:18 

1× 

Frondell with some slick moves.

Frondell is looking like the real deal, and if it wasn't for the losing overshadowing everything else, I'd be a lot more excited about him (and Roman Kantserov, too). Frondell has also been solid defensively; it's just that he's probably much more effective on the wing. 

## Almost winning isn't winning

Chicago looked good for most of the game. Sure, there were major issues in their own end (including the turnover that led to Boston's second goal), but Chicago was doing things we hadn't seen yet. I mentioned the 5-on-5 stats above, but take a look at the heat map. 

![Chicago Blackhawks at Boston Bruins shot map](https://stevekwrites.com/content/images/2026/11/blackhaws_bruins_shot_map.png)

Chicago Blackhawks at Boston Bruins shot map

That's good. I've been asking for this team to generate scoring chances from inside the house all season. 

Yet, the result of this game left me feeling empty. 

[Dave over at Second City Hockey said it better](https://www.secondcityhockey.com/chicago-blackhawks-boston-bruins-october-31-2026-regular-season-result-score-recap-highlights/?ref=stevekwrites.com) than I can, but this felt like a game the Hawks *should* have won. Sure, there were loads of bogus calls. But where was that extra bite? Nikita Zadorov's [hard hit against Bedard](https://x.com/BlackhawksFocus/status/2116582635623600462?a=CA28UARu7s2UUL2%5FPpc&s=20&ref=stevekwrites.com) should have lit a fire in the team. But no one came and defended him. That's their Captain, their best player, and he's back early from shoulder surgery. And I'm saying this as someone who hates when players fight after a clean hit (which that was), but someone should have been a little more upset. 

But instead, they let Boston climb back and win it in overtime.