‘Unfortunate bounce’ leads to loss
The Blackhawks want to one day emulate the Winnipeg Jets’ speed.
And they managed a decent impression Friday night when they ran the equivalent of a full-court press in the first period and scored on a 6-on-5 to take the Jets to overtime.
But typical of the Hawks, even when they play well, something goes awry.
Jets left wing Kyle Connor tried a backdoor pass to Josh Morrissey, but it ricocheted off Nick Foligno as he rushed in to defend, and in a blink the puck sailed past Petr Mrázek 25 seconds into OT for a 3-2 Hawks loss at the United Center.
“You’re trying to pass it back door and (it goes) just off Nick’s skate, and Raz has really got no chance on that,” Seth Jones said. “In OT, we want to try to sustain puck possession when we can, but that’s just an unfortunate bounce.”
The Hawks have lost 11 of 12 (1-9-2). Nikolaj Ehlers looked like a jet on the game’s first two goals.
The Hawks lost a battle in the Jets’ zone, and Dylan DeMelo sprung Ehlers on a rush. Ehlers snapped the goal so quickly on the other end that officials needed a review to confirm the goal.
Then in the second, Ehlers skated from the back of the net and zipped through the Hawks defense untouched before scoring his second goal.
“I think we were upset with the (delayed Philipp Kurashev tripping) penalty,” Hawks coach Luke Richardson said. “We stopped playing for a second and really let probably the fastest guy on the ice tonight pick up speed.
“Our forwards let him weave through the neutral zone and (that) puts a lot of pressure on our D.”
The Hawks rallied in the second and third. Colin Blackwell scored on a breakaway, giving him goals in back-to-back games. The Hawks pulled the goalie with two minutes left in regulation, and the six-on-five paid off.
Tyler Johnson tied it 2-2 with 43 seconds left, the Hawks’ latest tying goal since Dominik Kubalik scored with 26 seconds left against the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 15, 2021, according to NHL Stats.
In overtime, a Hawks strategy backfired. Richardson deployed Foligno and Jason Dickinson to start instead of Bedard and Kurashev in an effort to tire out the Jets’ top starters, but the Hawks lost possession.
“I just thought we’d have those guys kind of check,” Richardson said. “We hoped to hold that puck longer, so then they get just tired out and don’t have an opportunity (to) change. Then we were hoping if we can get the puck and sustain it, then they’re tired and stuck out there, we had Kurashev and Connor cued and ready to go.
“Unfortunately we didn’t get that far.” Here are three takeaways from the loss.
1. Have the Hawks found something with six-on-five?
Mind you, as much as they’ve trailed late in games (they’re 2-31-3 when trailing after the second period), they’ve had a ton of practice.
In this case, a couple of key plays saved the day.
Jones kept the puck from leaking out of the zone, and Dickinson sent a cross-crease pass that glanced off Foligno to Johnson, who scored the tying goal.
“The six guys, we talked after our last game because we weren’t happy with what was going on,” Johnson said. “We were going to be looking for some low plays. Try to go eastwest in front of the net. …
“It was just a couple of things that we talked internally as players and figured out. Thankfully it worked.”
The Hawks have run six-on-five 42 times (including pulling the goaltender for delayed penalties), tied with with the Anaheim Ducks for most in the NHL, according to NHL Stats. They’ve produced three goals.
2. Kevin Korchinski made some rookie mistakes.
It was a school night for the kid. He committed several turnovers and was on the business end of Ehlers’ finishing stroke on his second goal. Korchinski, in fact, was on the ice for both Jets goals in regulation.
“(Assistant coach) Kevin Dean talked to him on the bench and in between periods and I thought he settled in better,” Richardson said. “He started moving his feet more.
“When he’s standing still, trying to pass the puck — and I’ve talked to Connor Bedard or anybody on our team — when you’re standing still and trying to pass pucks through people in this league, they get knocked down.
“Especially as defensemen, because you’re in your own zone, usually, trying to exit. That happens quite a bit.”
3. Hawks retaliate for targeting Bedard.
In the third, Anthony Beauvillier jumped in to defend Bedard after Brenden Dillion hit Bedard and tried to goad him into a tussle. Dillon was called for roughing and Bedard for slashing.
“Beauvy was in there pretty quick,” Jones said. “We want to do that to other team’s best players as well. You want to get under guys’ skin.”
Foligno planted Dillon later on in the period, just to cement the message: Don’t mess with Bedard.
“Fliggy got him a (few shifts) after,” Jones said. “That’s just playing hard. Playing hard for each other, being physical. I think we can do that a little bit more.”
Said Richardson: “Our guys are just protecting the young guy out there and I think that’s great.
“It continued after, it was a shift or two after, we had a couple good hits by (MaKenzie) Entwistle and Reese Johnson, then (Jarred) Tinordi goes and grabs their best player, just to let everybody know, don’t mess around or we’ll come back on your best player.
“That’s the way the game within the game is played.”