The Chicago Blackhawks would face the Arizona Coyotes Thursday night. They would go into the game with seven defensemen and eleven forwards due to Hagel and two others going on the Covid list just before the tilt. Ultimately, Chicago would lose to maybe the worst team in the league, six to four. You can’t lose to a team with seven wins.
1) Attendance struggles evident:
The rink was empty tonight in Arizona. Just adding to the speculation that this could be Chicago’s last time going to the desert. The fans that were in attendance primarily rooted for the Hawks, and you could easily hear the “Let’s Go Hawks” chant during the broadcast. I hope they find a way to make it work its great for the NHL to be in Arizona, but it doesn’t look great. According to Ben Pope, the attendance was 11,632… Tough.
2) Blackhawks bad starts would continue:
Chicago just can not find a way to be ready to start games this season. Once again, they would start the game versus the Coyotes lethargic. This has been an issue regardless of the coach. The Blackhawks can’t score goals, and going down one early is a huge hole for this team. Too bad the Hawks have found themselves down two to zero back-to-back games. Just cant chase games every night and expect to have good results.
3) Beaudin ice time?
Why didn’t Beaudin play a single shift in the first period? If you’re going to dress him, play him. Yes, you dressed him because of covid hitting late. But to have a kid sit on the bench and not see the ice one time in the first is just ridiculous! after two periods, he would actually see the ice but only play a measly forty seconds. Finished the game with one minute and eleven seconds—just mismanagement of a player by this coaching staff.
4) Entwhistle offensive production continues.
Entwhistle has produced when he has been in Chicago’s lineup. He had the energy going versus the Coyotes and managed to score again. In his last nine games, he has six points. He has been better the last few games in his zone. If this can continue, maybe the Blackhawks have finally found some depth goal scoring.
5) Is Dach’s Confidence back?
Kirby Dach had it going on! He would show his hand-eye batting a puck in the net to open the scoring for the Blackhawks. Kirby would take an unlucky delay of game penalty. Dach showing off his swagger and sweet hands, would toe-drag multiple players. Dach would also use his size tonight to bounce off and battle through players, create shorthanded chances, and just have one of the best games of his season.
6) This team has not quit.
The Chicago Blackhawks have not quit. For the second game in a row, Chicago would go down two goals and battle back to tie the game both times. This is a good sign to see, considering how far back the Hawks are in the standings. But the bad start would be too much.
7) Kurashev continues to impress.
Kurashev has been a totally different player since being recalled from the AHL. He brings energy to the lineup every night. Kurashev has found a way to be more consistent in the defensive zone. The creativity was displayed early when he would use the net to bank himself a pass, losing the defender. If Kurashev continues to play this way, the points will come.
8) Penalty kill continues to stink!
The Blackhawks would take a lot of penalty in a game that, well, to say the least, was officiated inconsistently. They would give up two goals again on the penalty kill. Chicago’s penalty kill came tied with the Kings for twenty-fifth. The special teams overall have been horrendous for a while. Chicago would give up two goals on the five chances they had.
9) Is Toews back?
Toews would have his best game of the season. He was noticeable all over the ice. He would also make an unreal saucer pass for the first goal. He would also score a goal that would go in off of him as he crashed the net. In Toews’s last nine games, he has scored five goals and two assists. Maybe Toews has finally found his offensive touch again?
