The Chicago Blackhawks saw a competitive first period turn into a horrendous second in Thursday’s 6-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. It was looking like a same-story, different-venue situation Friday at the United Center.
The Hawks and Columbus Blue Jackets were tied at 1 at the first intermission following final-minute goals from centers Charlie Coyle and Connor Bedard. Then the road team started the second 20 minutes on fire.
Coyle (1:23) and right winger Mathieu Olivier (6:47) scored to give the Blue Jackets a two-goal lead. The Hawks, though, didn’t want things to go sour twice in 24 hours.
Frank Nazar’s goal at 10:49 of the second pulled the Hawks within a goal, giving them urgent momentum entering the third. But they couldn’t complete the comeback, falling 4-2 for their fifth straight loss and eighth in 10 games.
“All we look at is what we did well, what we didn’t do well, (and) how we can grow and get better,” Hawks coach Jeff Blashill said. “Whatever we did poorly and can correct, we work on that, and whatever we did well, we emphasize that.”
The Hawks (21-25-9) have two more chances to snap their skid before the three-week Olympic break, playing host to the San Jose Sharks on Monday and at Columbus on Wednesday.
“I think we’ve gotten way better at understanding how to play in (back-to-backs),” Blashill said. “I thought we were the better team this second half of the game.”
The Hawks had multiple chances in the third to tie the game, but to no avail. They outshot the Jackets 17-12 in the last two periods.
“I thought we definitely played better, especially after the first,” Bedard said. “We didn’t have that kind of period that we did last night, where you give up four or five, but end of the day, result’s the same.”
Bedard had a chance to tie the game after the puck hit his left foot near regulation’s end. He sent a floating shot over goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (22 saves) and the open net above him.
Coyle made an aggravated Bedard and the Hawks pay, scoring an empty-netter with 1:03 left in regulation. His hat trick was the 31st leaguewide in January, an NHL single-month record.
Hawks defenseman Artyom Levshunov was a healthy scratch Friday night. Blashill said it will be the start of a much-needed break for the 20-year-old.
“I think what he needs is a chance to reset some foundational things,” Blashill said. “It’s a very hard league and he’s going to be a really good player, and he’s done lots of good stuff for us, but we just felt like this was a time where you need a little bit of a break and really focus on those things.”
The 2024 No. 2 pick has shown some flashes of what he could be for the Hawks. He’s fifth among NHL rookies with 19 assists in addition to two goals.
Those flashes haven’t covered up defenseman’s mistakes when he finds himself out of position, leading to moments at which the Hawks get lucky if the opponent doesn’t score. In his last nine games, he has a minus-11 rating.
“He’s showing that he’s gotten better 100%, he’s almost like a freak athlete in terms of how strong he is, (but) he’s just got a lot to learn,” Blashill said. “It’s a process, and that’s true of all young players.”
Levshunov won’t be assigned to the Rockford IceHogs but instead will spend some time in a “program” working on some “foundational” things. Three specific parts of his game will see tweaks: shooting technique, defensive positioning and footwork and “delivering the puck in the right spot”.
“One of the things that him and I talked about was attacking the game offensively … and now he’s given up some things defensively, now we’ve got to refocus it and make sure that we’re super sound defensively,” Blashill said. “Balance isn’t easy. Balance take guys a long time, and we’ll continue to work with it.”
The coach didn’t disclose how long the program will be for the defenseman, but there’s a chance Levshunov won’t see action until after the Winter Games.
Sam Rinzel was recalled from Rockford on Friday afternoon and replaced Levshunov in the lineup. The defenseman logged 22:18 of ice time with three shots on goal and four blocked shots.
“I felt good, legs felt pretty decent,” Rinzel said. “I think my defensive game has actually grown a lot, the awareness side of it and D-zone side of it, not letting pucks get through me.”
The 21-year-old played 19 games with the IceHogs, compiling 10 points (two goals, eight assists). Blashill wanted him to find his swagger with the puck, and he feels he’s doing just that.
“Part of it is realizing that 90% of the game is 50-50 shifts, and it’s about winning those 50-50 shifts,” Rinzel said. “Nothing has to be flashy or crazy, it’s learning to play with my brain and use my brain to beat guys.”
Captain Nick Foligno did not play Friday. Blashill labeled him day to day with an undisclosed injury.
