The Blackhawks suffered another defeat last night, losing a game in which they were just one goal away in the third period. Although they were only “within one goal for 21 seconds,” it’s worth noting that they have been within one goal in 24 of their 25 games this season. This makes frustrating losses, like the 4-1 final score, even harder to bear for fans and players alike, especially with empty-net goals starting to accumulate.
In their 25 games, the Blackhawks have managed to score only 61 goals, a disappointing figure. Meanwhile, they’ve conceded 78 goals, which is not terrible but also not great. Notably, they’ve given up 11 goals while playing 6-on-5 (meaning they had an empty net), which skews the scoring. If we remove those 11 empty-net goals, the Blackhawks would have been outscored 67-61.
To illustrate further, the Blackhawks have allowed 48 goals at even strength, the same as the Washington Capitals, who have a record of 17-6-1. This indicates that their defensive play is decent, but they are struggling offensively.
A concerning note is that Philipp Kurashev finished with a minus-two last night, one of four forwards with similar stats against the Leafs (with Ryan Donato at minus-three). Kurashev now has the poorest on-ice even strength goal differential on the Blackhawks, being involved in just four team goals while 25 have been scored against him, leading to a minus-21. Teuvo Teräväinen follows with a minus-13 but has played in three more games. In contrast, Jason Dickinson, who faces the toughest matchups, has a much better differential of minus-one.
General Manager Kyle Davidson recently appeared on TSN1050 in Toronto and discussed various topics, including Connor Bedard’s second season, reminding everyone that Bedard could still technically be eligible to play for Canada at the World Juniors. Davidson emphasized the need for accountability from all NHL players regarding their performance.
Greg Wyshynski from ESPN noted in his awards for the end of November that Bedard is his pick for worst regression this season, questioning whether he’s experiencing a sophomore slump or if the challenges stem from playing for the current Blackhawks team. Despite this, Bedard remains the focal point for other teams, with 19 points as of Monday, equating to players like Jake DeBrusk and Timo Meier. Wyshynski also criticized Bedard’s recent line combination with Dickinson and Joey Anderson, which lasted fewer than three games despite Dickinson scoring twice in the first game. While negativity towards Bedard and the Blackhawks is prevalent, it’s worth acknowledging the context.
Notably, Macklin Celebrini is currently the only player younger than Bedard in the NHL. Tomorrow night, Blackhawks fans can tune in to watch their team face off against the Bruins on TNT or CHSN, depending on their viewing preferences. For those interested in future prospects, the IceHogs game against Lehigh Valley will also be broadcast on the NHL Network at 6 PM on Wednesday.
Additionally, it’s notable that Major Frederic McLaughlin, the Blackhawks’ original owner, will be inducted into the USA Hockey Hall of Fame tomorrow night, a development that highlights his contributions to hockey history, detailed in a piece by USA Hockey.
