The Chicago Blackhawks had a promising begin to their season however issues haven’t gone properly recently.
The Blackhawks adopted up a 2-2-1 begin with 4 consecutive losses, together with a defeat to kick off a five-game highway journey on Saturday on Da;;as. That trek continues on Monday in Denver in opposition to the Colorado Avalanche, who’ve gained 5 in a row.
Chicago went right into a rebuild a number of years in the past and has not gained 30 video games in every of the previous three full seasons. The Blackhawks have stocked younger expertise, led by 2023 high total choose Connor Bedard, however haven’t seen the outcomes on the ice.
“We will not give attention to what is going on to occur; we have to give attention to the method proper now. I am sick of dropping,” ahead Patrick Maroon informed reporters after Chicago’s 4-2 loss in Dallas on Saturday.
Coach Luke Richardson has shuffled his traces nevertheless it hasn’t stopped the dropping streak. A silver lining from Saturday night time is the Blackhawks trimmed a three-goal deficit down to 1 earlier than the Stars scored an insurance coverage objective with 18 seconds to play.
It wasn’t a lot consolation for Bedard, nonetheless.
“We’re not simply going to be pleased that we stayed in a recreation,” he informed reporters. “We’re all NHL gamers; that is not the objective. It is irritating. We’re what, (2-6-1)? That is fairly unhealthy. Dropping shouldn’t be enjoyable, so we have clearly received to determine it out.”
Colorado seemingly has figured issues out after beginning the season with 4 straight losses. An enormous motive is the play of goaltender Justus Annunen, who was in internet for Sunday night time’s 5-4 win over Ottawa.
Annunen has began the previous 4 video games and allowed simply 4 objectives within the first three begins earlier than the Senators slipped 4 pucks by him within the remaining 11:45 of the third interval.
Coach Jared Bednar publicly has mentioned that Alexandar Georgiev is the No. 1 goaltender, nonetheless Annunen has made a compelling case for added enjoying time.
Georgiev doubtless will begin the second recreation of the back-to-back on Monday, and a superb efficiency would make an intriguing state of affairs for the Avalanche. Georgiev has a 4.99 goals-against common in his 5 video games this season, properly above his 2.89 profession common.
Bednar did not panic when his workforce misplaced 4 straight to start out the season, and he is not getting too complacent after 5 straight wins.
“We discovered numerous classes in these 4. It occurs on a regular basis. It is not unique to us,” he mentioned after Sunday’s win. “If you’re dropping, then you definately really feel such as you’re not enjoying properly, and also you begin digging in to start out enjoying higher, and it is the eye to element and the buy-in, the dedication that it takes to win, simply doing all the pieces more durable and cleaner.
“You are digging into each facet of your recreation. So once you develop these habits, and it comes round for you, it provides them confidence again and it tends to go that means.”
–Discipline Stage Media
