The Chicago Blackhawks knew they were going to experience some rough patches as they rebuild, but they’ve faced more adversity than they expected.
Chicago has the 2023 No. 1 overall pick in Connor Bedard to build around, and he has been impressive in his first 30 games, leading the team in goals (12), assists (14) and points (26). But it has still been an uphill battle for the Blackhawks with the lack of experience and the frequent injuries.
The depleted Blackhawks will face another challenge when they host the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night.
Chicago’s latest loss, a 4-3 home setback to Vancouver on Sunday, came with three of the team’s top defensemen sidelined. Seth Jones was placed on injured reserve on Saturday with a left shoulder injury, Alex Vlasic was sidelined by an upper-body injury and Kevin Korchinski was away from the team following the death of his father.
The team attended the funeral in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on Friday morning and turned around to play against one of the best teams in the Western Conference.
The Blackhawks have three others on injured reserve: Andreas Athanasiou (groin), Jarred Tinordi (concussion) and Taylor Hall, who is out for the season due to ACL surgery.
Tinordi skated Saturday and is close to returning.
“I hate moral victories. But with what we’re facing right now with the group we have with injuries, I’m proud of our guys for competing,” Chicago forward Nick Foligno said after Sunday’s loss. “That’s the standard — we talked about that — that’s bare minimum. And it gives you a chance to win every night.”
Colorado is dealing with injuries, too. Star defenseman Cale Makar has missed the past two games with a lower-body injury and Artturi Lehkonen (neck), Samuel Girard (personal) and Gabriel Landeskog (knee) are also out.
Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said after Sunday night’s 6-2 win over San Jose that Makar’s injury is not serious and the team wants to “nip it in the bud.”
Colorado was able to dominate the Sharks without its top defenseman behind the play of star forward Nathan MacKinnon, who had four points in the win (two goals, two assists). MacKinnon was named the First Star of the Week by the NHL.
MacKinnon has three goals and seven assists in his past four games and holds the NHL’s longest active point streak at 15 games. He kicked the week off with a tiebreaking goal against Calgary on Dec. 11 to cap a third-period rally.
MacKinnon also recorded his 800th career point last week.
“Nate’s been playing great for a while now,” Colorado forward Jonathan Drouin said. “He’s taken his game to the next level the past couple weeks.”
The Avalanche also got a bounce-back game on Sunday from goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, who hadn’t played since being pulled after giving up five goals in two periods against the Flames. Georgiev stopped 25 shots in the win over the Sharks.
Georgiev could get the start on Tuesday night. Backup Ivan Prosvetov played well in the rally against Calgary and gave up just one goal to Buffalo in last Wednesday’s 5-1 win but allowed five goals in a loss at Winnipeg on Saturday night.
–Field Level Media
