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)

CHICAGO (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo returned Saturday night from the right calf strain that kept the two-time MVP from playing in the Milwaukee Bucks’ previous eight games.

The two-time MVP scored a game-high 29 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 112-103 victory over the Chicago Bulls.

He blocked the Bulls’ first field-goal try and ended the game with a dunk to cap his first action since Dec. 3.

“In the past, when I was younger, I think the recovery process for me was way faster,” said Antetokounmpo, who turned 31 this month. “Now you’ve got to be patient with everything.

“I think I followed everything step by step.”

Antetokounmpo was in the starting lineup for the Bucks’ game against the Chicago Bulls, after the team originally listed him as questionable on the injury report.

“The goal is to stay healthy,” Antetokounmpo said, “and be available for the team and make the playoffs.”

Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers said before the game the nine-time All-Star won’t be thrown back into the grind right away.

“He’ll be on a minutes restriction,” Rivers said before the game. He played almost 25 minutes on Saturday night.

Antetokounmpo hasn’t played since injuring his calf less than three minutes into the Bucks’ 113-109 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Dec. 3. The injury came on Antetokounmpo’s fourth game back after a left adductor strain caused him to miss four games.

“Maybe it was a mistake of me coming back a little bit earlier, because once I come back, now you’re overcompensating,” Antetokounmpo said Dec. 18. “The only way you can pop your soleus is by overcompensating and then having an extreme amount of load or play a lot of games in a short period of time. Again, I think all of the things that I was thinking and trying to come back led to the incident that I had with my soleus.”

The Bucks went 2-6 in the eight games Antetokounmpo missed because of the calf issue. So far this season, the Bucks are 10-8 with Antetokounmpo and 3-11 without him.

Antetokounmpo has averaged 28.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists this season.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, right, celebrates with guard Kevin Porter Jr.. left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls in Chicago, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls in Chicago, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo shoots against the Chicago Bulls during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

FILE - Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo reacts after suffering an injury during the first half an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kylie Bridenhagen, File)