Jason Dickinson Scores Again, Mrazek Strong: Blackhawks Top Kraken 4-3 on Emotional Day

Jason Dickinson scored his fifth goal in four games, Petr Mrazek made 33 saves and the Chicago Blackhawks held on to beat the Seattle Kraken 4-3 on Tuesday night to cap an emotional day.

Boris Katchouk, Tyler Johnson and MacKenzie Entwistle also connected to help Chicago win just its second game in its last eight. Recent call-up Joey Anderson had two assists in a solid effort.

The Blackhawks came out with energy after players learned earlier in the day the team had placed veteran forward Corey Perry on unconditional waivers and planned to terminate his $4 million contract. 

Chicago says Perry engaged in unacceptable conduct, but gave no indication as to what it was in the latest twist involving the 38-year-old winger who was sent home last week without explanation.

The players, along with the coaching staff, learned of the move from general manager Kyle Davidson after the team's morning skate. They weren't told what Perry did, but the abrupt release of the well-liked veteran was jarring.

"It's not a normal day and it's not a day that's easy on any of us," alternate captain Nick Foligno said. "It's a guy we care about and it's a hard day, but I'm really proud of the guys for channeling."

Coach Luke Richardson recommended the Blackhawks acquire Perry after the forward helped young players in Montréal when Richardson was an assistant coach with the Canadiens.

"It's definitely a challenging day for the guys," Richardson said. "I thought they were totally professional tonight and did their jobs and kept mentally strong."

Richardson did not address players after Davidson talked to players and coaches collectively about Perry.

"Kyle just addressed the team this morning before we left the arena," Richardson said. "I was just part of the group that he addressed and there was really nothing else for me to say."

Richardson added he has not talked to Perry individually about the matter.

During the game, the team announced it acquired forward Anthony Beauvillier from the Vancouver in exchange for a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. The 26-year-old Beauvillier is in the final year of a three-year contract that pays $4.15 million per season, and has two goals and six assists in 22 games with the Canucks.

The Blackhawks said Tuesday in a statement that an internal investigation showed Perry acted in violation of his NHL Standard Player Contract and club policies “intended to promote professional and safe work environments.”

Perry, in his 19^th NHL season won the Stanley Cup with Anaheim in 2007 and became the first player in league history to reach the final three consecutive years and lose each time with Dallas, Montreal and Tampa Bay from 2020-22.

Katchouk and Dickinson scored 1:29 apart midway through the first period to cap a series of energetic shifts and give Chicago a 2-0 lead.

Matty Beniers and Alex Wennberg, with a short-handed goal, struck late in the first to tie it 2-all.

Johnson put Chicago back in front 3-2 at 4:22 of the second, beating Philipp Grubauer from the right circle. Entwistle made it 4-2 at 10:43, firing in a rebound of Anderson’s backhanded wrap-round attempt.

Rookie Tye Kartye, set up by Beniers, trimmed it to 4-3 at 6:51 of the third. Chicago killed off a 5-on-3 power-play late and won puck battles down the stretch to hold on.