The Chicago Blackhawks are experiencing their third losing streak of at least three games this season, with recent losses being particularly one-sided. They will host the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night after suffering back-to-back defeats by three goals against the Columbus Blue Jackets and Toronto Maple Leafs.
An empty-net goal in the final moments of Monday’s game secured a 4-1 win for the Maple Leafs. “In the second and third periods, we created opportunities,” said Blackhawks forward Lukas Reichel. “They weren’t top-tier chances, but we were active in the offensive zone and drove to the net, yet we just couldn’t capitalize. We need to find ways to win when it’s 2-1 or when we’re down by a goal. It’s tough right now.”
Reichel scored Chicago’s only goal on Monday, cutting the deficit to 2-1 at 3:26 of the third period, but the Maple Leafs’ Fraser Minten restored the two-goal lead just 21 seconds later. Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson commented, “We had some excellent opportunities and executed our game plan well down low, but unfortunately, we couldn’t convert on a few chances, and some loose pucks eluded us. We faced several tough bounces tonight.”
Meanwhile, Boston looks to extend its winning streak to a season-high three games while completing a stretch of three games in four days. They defeated the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 on Tuesday, with Pavel Zacha scoring the game-winner 2:15 into overtime. “It’s crucial to win games if we want to have a successful season,” Zacha noted, praising their penalty kill as a foundation to build on for the next matchup.
Since Joe Sacco stepped in as interim coach after Jim Montgomery’s firing, Boston has improved to 5-2-0. Zacha attributed their success to a change in mindset. “There’s been more emphasis on shot volume and solid defensive structure, which has helped our defense and overall play.” Nikita Zadorov, who scored Boston’s first goal on Tuesday, added, “We’re playing with passion and pride for one another. Before, we seemed disconnected.”
In other news, the Blackhawks’ leading scorer Connor Bedard (19 points) saw his three-game point streak come to an end against the Maple Leafs, after having scored one goal with a minus-1 rating in two games against the Bruins last season.
