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Burakovsky doesn't sugarcoat it after another Blackhawks loss: 'We just mentally didn't want it'

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Sam Walker
November 30, 2025 (9:53)

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Frustration hung over the Chicago Blackhawks locker room Friday night after a 4-3 loss to the Nashville Predators at United Center. Veteran winger André Burakovsky made it clear his teammates didn't bring enough mental edge when it mattered.

Chicago struck first early as Ryan Donato buried a shot to give them a quick lead, assisted by Sam Rinzel and Burakovsky himself.

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The Blackhawks managed to tie the game twice, with Ryan Greene scoring a power-play goal and Teuvo Teräväinen adding another.

But every time Chicago responded, Nashville came right back-and eventually sealed it with a third-period marker by Ryan O'Reilly on a 24-save effort from Juuse Saros.

The Blackhawks had one last power-play chance late, but couldn't convert.

Burakovsky, back in the lineup after missing time with a head hit, didn't mince words after the final horn sounded.

«Today, we just made it hard for ourselves,» he said. «I think Nashville is a team that we should and can beat. We just mentally didn't want it enough today, I guess.»

This isn't the first time that a player has held teammates accountable; Frank Nazar called out the Blackhawks' poor effort just last month.

That honesty from a veteran voice stings, but it's also what this young group might need.

Burakovsky calls out mental effort

You could see the wear on the Blackhawks all night-few forecheck battles won, sloppy zone entries, and a second period where they were clearly outworked by the last-place Predators.

Head coach Jeff Blashill echoed the sentiment after the game, saying they simply weren't good enough for long stretches.

There were bright spots-Greene looked buzz-worthy on offense and generated chances. But a handful of flashes can't cover for a collective lack of urgency against a bottom-dweller in Nashville.

Chicago now drops a fifth straight game and pushes their home skid deeper.

They head into a tough stretch hoping to salvage confidence and consistency. If they don't tighten up mentally, more nights like this could be coming.

Previously on Chicago Hockey Insider

Trade chatter brewing between the Chicago Blackhawks and Toronto Maple Leafs

Chicago Blackhawks forward suffers injury, questionable to play in Sunday's game vs. Ducks

Chicago Blackhawks prospect suspended for one game after raging outburst in OHL game

POLL
NOVEMBRE 30 \| 116 ANSWERS Burakovsky doesn't sugarcoat it after another Blackhawks loss: 'We just mentally didn't want it' Did the Blackhawks slide vs Predators mainly because of effort or execution?
Effort	43	37.1 %
Execution	22	19 %
Both	47	40.5 %
Neither	4	3.4 %
List of polls

Burakovsky doesn't sugarcoat it after another Blackhawks loss: 'We just mentally didn't want it'

Frustration hung over the Chicago Blackhawks locker room Friday night after a 4-3 loss to the Nashville Predators at United Center. Veteran winger André Burakovsky made it clear his teammates didn't bring enough mental edge when it mattered.

Burakovsky calls out mental effort

Did the Blackhawks slide vs Predators mainly because of effort or execution?