After finding a salve for their struggles in the form of the Arizona Coyotes, the Chicago Blackhawks will try to bolt from the NHL basement when they host the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday.
Tied with the San Jose Sharks for the fewest points in the league with 39 points, the Blackhawks have won two of three following a seven-game losing streak. The Sharks visit the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday.
Both Chicago victories came against the Coyotes by a combined count of 12-6. The Blackhawks managed only 10 goals during the seven-game skid.
“They showed some real good resilience as a team, and we didn’t implode and start yelling and slamming doors on the bench,” Chicago coach Luke Richardson said after Sunday’s 7-4 home win against Arizona. “I think we just got down to business and got it done.”
Colin Blackwell netted a hat trick for Chicago, rookie standout Connor Bedard added two goals and an assist, and Seth Jones had four assists.
For Blackwell, who navigated trade speculation before last week’s deadline and previously missed 10 months with a sports hernia, the surge was a welcome one ahead of the stretch run of a frustrating season.
“Obviously I missed a lot of time in the beginning of the year, so (I have) 17 more games here to prove that this is where I want to be,” Blackwell said.
The Ducks, whose 49 points are third-fewest in the NHL, are coming off consecutive lopsided home losses to the Dallas Stars and New York Islanders.
Anaheim outshot New York 23-19 on Sunday but was outscored 6-1. Lukas Dostal made 13 saves in goal. The Ducks lost 6-2 to Dallas on Friday.
“At some point, people in the room have to take ownership of what’s going on here,” Ducks coach Greg Cronin said. “Come on, it’s game 60-something. It’s frustrating for me that we’re not taking ownership as a group and applying it in the game.”
While Alex Killorn scored for the fourth straight contest on Sunday, the Ducks struggled to muster any offense beyond that. It continued a trend that has seen the team score two goals or fewer in four straight games.
“So, it’s just continuing to grow as a group,” defenseman Cam Fowler said,” helping the young players out as much as we can and trying to come up with a more consistent 60 minutes of hockey.”
Tuesday marks the beginning of a four-game road trip for the Ducks, who have won two of their last three away from home. The Blackhawks are playing the second game of a four-game homestand.
Chicago blanked visiting Anaheim 1-0 on Dec. 7, as Philipp Kurashev scored a second-period power-play goal in support of goaltender Petr Mrazek’s 37-save shutout.
Dostal kept the Ducks around by making 24 saves in a matchup that pitted Bedard, the top pick of the 2023 NHL Draft, against No. 2 selection Leo Carlsson of Anaheim.
Bedard leads Chicago in points (46), goals (19) and assists (27). Carlsson has 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists) on the season.
The clubs are set to conclude their season series on March 21 in Anaheim, Calif.
–Field Level Media
