NHL-worst Blackhawks snap 6-game skid with a 4-3, shootout victory over the Stars

DALLAS (AP) — Rookie Nick Lardis scored in the fourth round of the shootout to give the Chicago Blackhawks a 4-3 win over the Dallas Stars on Saturday night.

The Blackhawks, last in the overall NHL standings, snapped a six-game losing streak. The Stars, second in the overall standings, lost a second consecutive game after regulation following a four-game winning streak.

Tyler Bertuzzi scored twice, former Star Jason Dickinson added a goal and Arvid Soderblom made 28 saves through overtime for the Blackhawks. Soderblom, getting his 12th start with Chicago beginning a back-to-back, snapped a personal five-game skid during which he allowed 29 goals.

Mikko Rantanen had a goal and two assists, and Nils Lundkvist and Justin Hrychowian also scored for the Stars. Jake Oettinger stopped 30 shots.

Chicago won for the first time since star forward Connor Bedard was sidelined by a shoulder injury on Dec. 12.

Lardis, playing his sixth NHL game, sent the puck past Oettinger in his first NHL shootout attempt. He was one of five rookies in the Blackhawks’ lineup.

Bertuzzi has a team-high 18 goals and ended a seven-game pointless streak.

For Lundkvist, who missed 25 games with a lower-body injury, it was his first goal since the season-opening game.

Rantanen has 39 assists this season, second in the NHL, and has a six-game point streak (2-10-12).

Hryckowian has a five-game point streak (3-2-5).

Dallas’ Wyatt Johnston had three assists.

Chicago’s Alex Vlasic had two assists.

In a matchup of standout special teams, Dallas’ power play went 0 for 4 against Chicago’s penalty kill – ranked fourth.

The teams will meet again in Chicago on New Year’s night.

Blackhawks: Host Pittsburgh on Sunday night.

Stars: Host Buffalo on New Year’s Eve following a second consecutive three days off.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) and center Oskar Back (10) defend the goal against Chicago Blackhawks center Ryan Donato (8) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Dallas Stars right wing Nathan Bastian (11) reaches for the puck in front of Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Louis Crevier (46), defenseman Alex Vlasic (72) and goaltender Arvid Soderblom, right, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Arvid Soderblom (40) defends the goal against Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson (21) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Arvid Soderblom defends the goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Chicago Blackhawks left wing Nick Lardis (76) scores a goal against Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) during a shootout after regulation play of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Kennedy Center was running out of options Friday evening to keep President Donald Trump's name on the facade of the iconic performing arts venue.

A judge earlier in the afternoon rejected a request to pause a court-ordered deadline of Friday to remove references to Trump from the building and other aspects of the Kennedy Center's operations. The institution appealed that ruling, an effort that was also rebuffed Friday evening.

Scaffolding was erected earlier in the day around a section of the building that includes Trump's name. After a round of storms passed Friday evening, multiple workers were back at the scene further building out the scaffolding in an apparent effort to prepare for removing the letters referencing the president.

After ignoring the Kennedy Center for much of his first term, Trump has wielded tremendous influence over the venue during his return to office. Just a month into his second term, he ousted the center’s previous leadership and replaced it with a board of trustees that named him chairman. Trump's name was quickly added to the building.

In his ruling that only Congress could make changes to the Kennedy Center's name, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper also blocked the administration from closing the cultural and arts venue for major renovations that had been planned to start in July and last for two years.

The Kennedy Center's leadership argued in its appeal Friday that the renovation was badly needed and accused the lower court, in terms that seemed similar to Trump's speech patterns, of interfering in the effort.

“The District Court is not allowing us to close in order to properly fix up and repair the Building, including potentially life threatening structural damage like beams and parking garage ceilings that are rusted, and in serious danger of falling onto people below,” according to the appeal. “Indeed, total collapse!”

Even as the Kennedy Center has fought efforts to remove Trump's name from the building, it has taken steps to comply with Cooper's initial ruling.

A June 4 memo to staff from the Kennedy Center’s Office of General Counsel said email signatures, letterhead and other documents must reflect the name as “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts” or “Kennedy Center.”

The Kennedy Center’s website has dropped Trump's name. And an earlier email sent to members offering ticket packages for the June 28 Mark Twain Award for American Humor ceremony came from the Kennedy Center without including Trump’s name.

Associated Press journalists Mark Sherman and Emily Wang in Washington and Bill Barrow in Atlanta contributed to this report.

Workers construct scaffolding at the sign for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Friday, June 12, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Workers erect scaffolding in front of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts sign in Washington, Friday, June 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Workers construct scaffolding below the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts sign Friday, June 12, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Workers erect scaffolding in front of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts sign in Washington, Friday, June 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

A worker sits on scaffolding at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, Friday, June 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)