Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago Blackhawks: News, scores, updates and analysis2024-03-28T21:28:00.414-05:00https://chicago.suntimes.com/rss/blackhawks/index.xml2024-03-28T21:28:00.414-05:002024-03-29T00:01:06.336-05:00Blackhawks doomed by another poor start in loss to Senators
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<img class="Image" alt="Blackhawks Senators Hockey" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1127256/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8246x4628+0+113/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F6e%2F04%2F2e4b174c46cca96666049c0a607a%2Fblackhawks-senators-hockey.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/af15795/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8246x4628+0+113/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F6e%2F04%2F2e4b174c46cca96666049c0a607a%2Fblackhawks-senators-hockey.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
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<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>The Senators beat the Blackhawks 2-0 on Thursday.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Sean Kilpatrick/AP Photos</p></div></div>
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<p>KANATA, Ontario — The <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks" target="_blank" >Blackhawks</a>' first-period pendulum swung back to the bad side Thursday.</p><p>After a terrible start Saturday against the Sharks followed by a terrific start Tuesday against the Flames, the Hawks conceded the game’s only two goals within the first seven minutes of a 2-0 loss to the Senators — their 12th shutout defeat this season.</p><p>“[It was] probably the complete opposite of our first period against Calgary,” coach Luke Richardson said. “Credit to Ottawa, they out-skated us and outworked us. They were the team that played and traveled last night, and we just didn’t match that.”</p><p>Said forward Ryan Donato: “We keep on talking about our starts, and they’ve got to be better. It’s not too difficult if you just start on time, right? It seems to be difficult for us right now.”</p><p>Donato claimed the Hawks talked about the same things before the game as they did Tuesday, when they <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2024/03/27/blackhawks-flames-nhl-hot-start-jason-dickinson-landon-slaggert" target="_blank" >established targets</a> of 10 shots and 10 hits for the first period and the set-in-stone objectives worked some psychological wonders. No wonders were worked Thursday, however.</p><p>Claude Giroux scored a shorthanded goal for the Senators just 36 seconds into the game, capitalizing on a three-on-two rush. Philipp Kurashev and Seth Jones turned the puck over at the blue line and Kurashev, Connor Bedard and Tyler Johnson didn’t exactly hustle much to try to help Jones and Nick Foligno defend the counterattack.</p><p>“We got on the power play and we’re thinking we’re going to do some good things — you think the game is going to go well,” Donato said. “We’ve got to be mentally tough and battle back, and obviously we’ve got to work on some things to hopefully get back into that.”</p><p>Senators forward Parker Kelly tallied the only other goal when Bedard attempted an ill-advised bank pass off the boards in his defensive zone, Kelly flung the puck toward the net and Nikita Zaitsev attempted an ill-advised bat-down that actually deflected it past Petr Mrazek.</p><p>Zaitsev exited with an injury after the first period, jumbling the Hawks’ defensive pairs out of necessity. Richardson described Zaitsev’s absence as due to a combination of an illness and a nagging upper-body, calling him “not good enough to compete in the NHL tonight.”</p><p>The forward lines were jumbled just as much, but that was voluntary as Richardson searched for a spark of any kind. The Hawks eventually recognized they couldn’t penetrate the Senators’ neutral-zone structure and elected to dump and chase the puck more often, but that didn’t yield much fruit either.</p><p>The Hawks were credited with only 12 scoring chances, matching their lowest total of the season (Nov. 12 against the Panthers). Senators goalie Anton Forsberg, a one-time Hawk, didn’t have to do much to earn his second shutout of the season.</p><p>“We really didn’t have the puck a lot,” Richardson said. “We did turn the puck over in the neutral zone ... and [the Senators] played fast. So anytime they got it, we were chasing them.”</p><p>Mrazek started Thursday because he asked to, Richardson said. The Czechia native embraces Ottawa as his unofficial North American hometown since he played junior hockey nearby.</p><p>He was unquestionably the Hawks’ best player, making 32 saves — including some high-grade stops that kept the Hawks alive long enough to pull him for an extra attacker in the final minutes.</p><p>Richardson said backup goalie Arvid Soderblom, who might as well get some reps down the stretch to see if he can close out his disappointing season on a higher note, will start one of the two remaining games on the road trip against the Flyers and Islanders.</p>
https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2024/03/28/blackhawks-senators-nhl-poor-start-luke-richardson-petr-mrazekBen Pope2024-03-28T14:27:06.427-05:002024-03-29T00:06:06.883-05:00Blackhawks notes: Jarred Tinordi haunted by inconsistency in disappointing season
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<img class="Image" alt="Jarred Tinordi" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/10fdd98/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3717x2086+0+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F6f%2Fe2%2Ffb66e0ab4e928506de1362dd5954%2Ftinordi-1.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/17abd1b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3717x2086+0+0/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F6f%2Fe2%2Ffb66e0ab4e928506de1362dd5954%2Ftinordi-1.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
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<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Jarred Tinordi has been physical but little else for the Blackhawks this season.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Amber Bracken/AP Photos</p></div></div>
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<p>KANATA, Ontario — <b>Jarred Tinordi</b> filled his role as a physical depth defenseman for the <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks" target="_blank" >Blackhawks</a> so well last season that the team began contract-extension talks in March and solidified a new deal in April. Tinordi, a careerlong journeyman, felt like he had <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2023/4/11/23679024/blackhawks-jarred-tinordi-contract-extension-nhl-free-agency-workmanlike-season" target="_blank" >found a home</a>.</p><p>This season, however, has been a major disappointment. The 32-year-old has not played nearly as well, the team hasn’t improved like he hoped and his playing time has dwindled.</p><p>“It was an up-and-down year,” Tinordi said. “I would’ve liked to be a little bit more consistent, but it is what it is.”</p><p>Perhaps the only constant throughout his Hawks tenure has been injuries, which isn’t ideal. Last season, he was limited to 44 games because of hip, jaw and knee issues. This season, he missed time in November with an oblique injury, in December with a concussion and in February with a groin strain.</p><p>“I play physically — I don’t think that part is ever going to go away — so you limit it and take care of your body,” he said. “If you have to miss a game or two here and there, it’s worth what I’m doing on the ice.”</p><p>Tinordi currently feels the best he has in a while, particularly in his hips and legs, but he’s missing games as a healthy scratch instead. Thursday’s matchup against the Senators marked the fourth time in the last five games that he hasn’t dressed, and he <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2024/03/22/blackhawks-ducks-nhl-luke-richardson-lineup-jarred-tinordi" target="_blank" >fell flat the one time he did play</a> (last week against the Ducks). He’s stuck on 45 appearances for the season.</p><p>Coach <b>Luke Richardson</b> mentioned the absence of <b>Connor Murphy</b>, alongside whom Tinordi played his best hockey last season, as a factor in his struggles. At this point, it seems unlikely that he will receive another contract for next season.</p><p>“It seems like he’s trying to find that way back to [last year’s success] and trying a little too hard,” Richardson said. “Sometimes that means holding onto the puck a little too long or looking for the perfect play.</p><p>“Especially [for] defensive defensemen, time and space closes in on you quickly because your stick is so long and your body is long. You’re basically presenting the puck to the other team a lot earlier than some of the smaller guys. He has gotten himself in trouble where he’s looking for the perfect play and somebody gets a stick on it, and now he’s ... scrambling.”</p><h4><b>Eastern front</b></h4><p>In the weird-stats department, Hawks forward <b>Philipp Kurashev</b> has been much more productive against the Eastern Conference than against the Western Conference so far in his career.</p><p>In 79 career games against Eastern teams (entering Thursday), he has averaged 0.56 points per game and scored on 12.5% of his shots on goal. In 123 games against Western teams, he has averaged 0.40 points and scored on 7.3% of his shots.</p><p>Kurashev was dumbfounded but amused when asked why: “I don’t know what to say, but I hope we play them more,” he said.</p><h4><b>Wistful times</b></h4><p>As Kurashev's <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2023/11/14/23959824/blackhawks-philipp-kurashev-connor-bedard-chemistry-jellyfish-nhl-fantasy-hockey" target="_blank" >fourth NHL season</a> winds down, one thing on his mind is the fact he hasn’t yet gotten to experience the postseason. He has only witnessed the intensity and atmosphere from afar.</p><p>“I definitely dream about it,” Kurashev said. “I can’t wait to one day play in the games. That’s the best part of hockey ... and I haven’t experienced it yet. Hopefully in the next couple years, we’ll do more of that.”</p>
https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2024/03/28/blackhawks-jarred-tinordi-disappointing-season-philipp-kurashev-nhl-playoffsBen Pope2024-03-27T11:55:19.153-05:002024-03-27T23:40:00.432-05:00Blackhawks prospects: Oliver Moore learning new ways to utilize, fluctuate speed
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<img class="Image" alt="Oliver Moore" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/84da167/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3880x2178+0+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F21%2F8b%2F539e1eff4f2cafe414ab24096387%2Fmoore1.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a6f9fbb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3880x2178+0+0/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F21%2F8b%2F539e1eff4f2cafe414ab24096387%2Fmoore1.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
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<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Blackhawks prospect Oliver Moore is using his speed in new ways with Minnesota.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Brad Rempel/Minnesota Athletics</p></div></div>
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<p><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks" target="_blank" >Blackhawks</a> forward prospect Oliver Moore will get his first taste of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, when Minnesota faces Omaha.</p><p>Regardless of how long the Gophers' run lasts, this will mark the end of a successful freshman season for the Hawks' <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2023/6/28/23777849/blackhawks-oliver-moore-nhl-draft-pick-kyle-davidson-trades-second-round-preview-caleb-jones" target="_blank" >19th overall pick</a>, whose game improved significantly as the season progressed.</p><p>"I got off to a little bit of a slower start in the first half [of the year]," Moore said. "I wasn't producing as much as I wanted to. Once the world junior [championships] happened, I had a great time there, winning the championship. The second half has been better for our team and individually, as well."</p><p>Hawks assistant general manager Mark Eaton recently described Moore and fellow Minnesota freshman Sam Rinzel as the Hawks' two most-improved prospects from the start of the season to now.</p><p>In 19 games before leaving for the world junior championships, Moore tallied 12 points and Rinzel tallied 11. In 18 games since returning, Moore has tallied 21 points and Rinzel has tallied 16.</p><p>Both of them will return to Minnesota for at least one more season in 2024-25, but the Hawks have nonetheless worked closely with them to accelerate their developmental process. Although Moore's <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2023/7/9/23787547/blackhawks-oliver-moore-prospects-connor-bedard-kyle-davidson-usntdp-shawna-brian-parents" target="_blank" >world-class skating speed and agility</a> are well-known, there's still even more he can do with those skills.</p><p>"His speed is ... such a weapon, but it’s still raw in the forms of how he uses that speed," Eaton said. "We’ve had a lot of conversations with him about how he can use it more effectively, creating offense and entering the zone. </p><p>"Especially early on in games, [we want him] driving wide and forcing the defensemen to recognize that speed, which then maybe creates more space later in the game. Instead of driving down deep and cutting to the net, the defenseman is forced to back off to respect his speed, and it opens more space around the blue line."</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
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<img class="Image" alt="Oliver Moore" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9fbf2e9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4988x2799+0+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fa0%2F99%2F0e93713c47c6b7cad6f2e154bbff%2Fmoore2.JPG 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2678859/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4988x2799+0+0/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fa0%2F99%2F0e93713c47c6b7cad6f2e154bbff%2Fmoore2.JPG 2x" width="490" height="275"
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<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Oliver Moore’s production has taken off since January.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Matt Krohn/Minnesota Athletics</p></div></div>
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</div><p>That concept is nothing new to Moore because, in a funny and ultimately beneficial coincidence, his offseason skills coach during the two summers preceding the 2023 draft was Brian Keane, a Hawks skills coach during the season. </p><p>"I don't think there's one thing that I look for," Moore said. "It's all a read, and it's something you get more comfortable with as you practice it. You can play the game-within-the-game sometimes with defenders, especially in a conference where we're playing [the same] defensemen so much. You try to change up what you're doing ... based on what they're giving you."</p><p>In addition to using his speed in various ways to manipulate and exploit a defense, the Hawks have also discussed with Moore the importance of varying his speed itself. They've noticed he occasionally moves too quickly laterally across the neutral zone, which leads to him ending up facing the wall.</p><p>"Whereas [if you] vary your speed a little bit, [you can] slow down so you have the puck toward the middle of the zone, which then gives you more space to enter left and right," Eaton said. </p><p>"It’s about little things like that [in terms of] calibrating his speed and how to use it: when to use top speed, and when to use third or fourth gear. That’s a process that will continue through the rest of this year and into next year that will make him a more complete offensive player."</p><p>Meanwhile, Moore and Minnesota coaches identified on-ice communication as another area for him to improve.</p><p>Eaton didn't mention that, but considering how frequently Hawks coach Luke Richardson laments the quietness of this generation of hockey players, he'll likely appreciate Moore's efforts down the line.</p><p>"Sometimes I was leaving my wingers and guys on the ice a little bit isolated, just because I wasn't letting them know where I was," Moore said. "As the season has gone on, I'm communicating all over."</p>
https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2024/03/27/blackhawks-prospect-oliver-moore-minnesota-skating-speed-utilize-fluctuateBen Pope2024-03-26T23:05:48.089-05:002024-03-27T11:19:00.406-05:00Blackhawks ride much-needed hot start to victory against Flames
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<img class="Image" alt="The Blackhawks beat the Flames 3-1 on Tuesday at the United Center." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f9ca405/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x1684+0+82/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F1f%2F97%2Fcda1b7a34e86baa359bf95592f7c%2Fflames-blackhawks-hockey.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/60f2285/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x1684+0+82/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F1f%2F97%2Fcda1b7a34e86baa359bf95592f7c%2Fflames-blackhawks-hockey.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
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<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>The Blackhawks beat the Flames 3-1 on Tuesday at the United Center.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Paul Beaty/AP </p></div></div>
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<p>The <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks" target="_blank" >Blackhawks</a> wanted a hot start Tuesday night, and they got it.</p><p>After a series of sluggish first periods on their West Coast road trip, they responded to coach <b>Luke Richardson’s</b> <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2024/03/25/blackhawks-nhl-draft-lottery-odds-second-best-sharks-ducks-locked-in" target="_blank" >bag-skate practice</a> Monday by racing out of the gate en route to a 3-1 win over the Flames at the United Center.</p><p>“The first period was excellent,” Richardson said. “We were flying, physical, dominant in a lot of areas and didn’t let [the Flames] have a chance to get going.”</p><p>Before the game, the Hawks set explicit first-period targets of at least 10 shots on goal and 10 hits. Forward <b>Nick Foligno</b> said he hoped the firm numbers would create a shoot-first, hit-first mentality.</p><p>The target for hits was unintentionally ambitious. The Hawks have averaged 7.6 per period this season. Against the Flames, they fell just short of their goal with nine.</p><p>But they easily eclipsed the shots target, turning 14 on Flames goalie <b>Jacob Markstrom </b>while scoring twice for a 2-0 lead at the first intermission.</p><p>They drew two penalties within the first two minutes and, after a parade of grade-A scoring chances, finally broke the seal with a power-play bomb by defenseman <b>Seth Jones</b>. <b>Jason Dickinson </b>then turned up the physicality with a few big hits before burying a feed from fellow forward <b>Joey Anderson</b> on an odd-man rush to double the lead.</p><p>Dickinson scored again in the third period to reach 20 goals for the season.</p><p>“I don’t think anybody should ever be looking at 20 goals and not being very proud of themselves,” Dickinson said. “It’s a hell of an achievement. I’ve never cracked 10 before in this league.”</p><p>Things returned to equilibrium after the first period, with the Flames holding a 31-8 scoring-chance advantage the rest of the way. But Hawks goalie <b>Petr Mrazek</b> matched a season high with 40 saves to help maintain the lead until the final horn.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
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<img class="Image" alt="Jason Dickinson" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/658227e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4176x2344+0+73/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fef%2Fe7%2F41184f164a7b8102701c6bcb4c50%2Fflames-blackhawks-hockey-1.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3fc1a90/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4176x2344+0+73/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fef%2Fe7%2F41184f164a7b8102701c6bcb4c50%2Fflames-blackhawks-hockey-1.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
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<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Jason Dickinson scored twice Tuesday to reach the 20-goal plateau this season.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Paul Beaty/AP </p></div></div>
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</div><p></p><h3>Pride but no controversy</h3><p>The Hawks celebrated Pride Night without rainbow-colored Pride-themed jerseys during warmups. The NHL had banned all specialty jerseys this season in response to previous Pride jersey controversies, including the Hawks’ decision <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2023/3/22/23652380/blackhawks-not-wearing-pride-jerseys-russian-law-gay-propaganda-safety-concerns" target="_blank" >not to wear them last year</a>, supposedly because of safety concerns for Russian players.</p><p></p><p>Nonetheless, the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus and the Chicago Gay Hockey Association were among the organizations recognized, and Pride tape was available for Hawks players to put on their sticks during warmups. Dickinson, <b>Connor Bedard</b>, <b>Tyler Johnson</b>, <b>Jaycob Megna </b>and <b>Alex Vlasic</b> were among those who noticeably did.</p><h3>Slaggert so close</h3><p>Rookie forward <b>Landon Slaggert</b>, making his sixth appearance, earned his first two NHL points with secondary assists on Dickinson’s goals.</p><p></p><p>But the <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2024/03/12/blackhawks-landon-slaggert-joins-nhl-experience-role-luke-richardson" target="_blank" >Notre Dame product</a> was painfully denied two golden chances at his first NHL goal. His empty-net shot was blocked (after Markstrom mishandled the puck), and a called goal that hit the crossbar was overturned after review.</p><p></p><p>“He’s a smart player to play with,” Dickinson said of Slaggert. “He fits in with our line really well. He plays hard, [and] he puts pucks up the walls for us. [It’s] nothing fancy, but that’s what our line wants.”</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center><div class="Enhancement-item">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Landon Slaggert said he's still doing homework for two Notre Dame classes — Chinese History and "Values-Based Leadership" — so he can graduate this spring.<br><br>All while playing, and playing well, in the NHL: "The past few games, I feel like I'm finding my game."</p>— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenPopeCST/status/1772834715923349527?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2024</a></blockquote>
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</div></div><p></p><h3>This and that</h3><p>Veteran forward <b>Colin Blackwell</b> skated individually Tuesday morning but hasn’t been cleared for contact, Richardson said. He missed his third consecutive game.</p><p></p><p>• Prospect <b>Jiri Felcman</b>, one of the Hawks’ third-round picks last summer, signed a tryout contract to join Rockford for the remainder of the season. He had previously been playing in Switzerland.</p>
https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2024/03/27/blackhawks-flames-nhl-hot-start-jason-dickinson-landon-slaggertBen Pope2024-03-26T12:40:13.27-05:002024-03-26T23:08:20-05:00Lukas Reichel's next step in Blackhawks comeback: Translate possession into production
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<img class="Image" alt="Lukas Reichel" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/999355a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4144x2326+0+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F1e%2Fc2%2Fb35644cd493f8e28aae35c3e0ac1%2Freichel-11.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fcefa74/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4144x2326+0+0/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F1e%2Fc2%2Fb35644cd493f8e28aae35c3e0ac1%2Freichel-11.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
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<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Blackhawks forward Lukas Reichel hasn’t been able to penetrate defenses much.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Ryan Sun/AP </p></div></div>
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<p>The <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks" target="_blank" >Blackhawks</a> finally have Lukas Reichel skating at a high level. That’s one box checked.</p><p>The next one is for him to translate that skating (and the puck-possession time it’s creating) into real scoring chances and production — a rosier outlook for the 21-year-old German forward heading toward the summer than what he has shown for most of this season.</p><p>Reichel has looked more active and assertive since <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2024/03/16/blackhawks-lukas-reichel-returns-nhl-andreas-athanasiou-confidence" target="_blank" >returning from a stint in Rockford to boost his confidence</a>. But in his first five games back in the Hawks' lineup, including Tuesday night’s 3-1 victory over the Flames, he has only one point (an assist) and five total shots on goal.</p><p>“Confidence is such a big thing,” Reichel said Monday. “But without the puck and getting pucks back and competing every single day, that’s a big thing I needed to work on.</p><p>“I’ve felt good, but [I would] just like to have that killer instinct to put it in the net or make that last pass that creates a shot or leads to a goal. So [I’ll] just try to keep working on that, and hopefully I produce chances and everything.”</p><p>Reichel had one of his best shifts in a long time in the second period of a victory <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2024/03/24/blackhawks-sharks-historic-comeback-nhl-ryan-donato-seth-jones" target="_blank" >Saturday against the Sharks</a>. He hopped on the ice and made a nice pass around a defender to defenseman Seth Jones, who fired a hard shot from the faceoff circle. After the Sharks started a breakout, Reichel chased winger Filip Zadina from behind and stripped him in the neutral zone, then turned the other way and circled 360 degrees around the entire offensive zone before passing off to Jones for another hard shot.</p><p>The only gripe about that impressive sequence is that Reichel never got into the interior of the zone, which is where most NHL goals are scored. If he can keep hustling this tenaciously, protecting the puck this well and keeping his head up this much while penetrating defensive structures, he’ll truly be dangerous.</p><p>Coach Luke Richardson called him one of the Hawks’ “most notice-able guys” against the Sharks and mentioned another shift in the third period in which he forced a turnover in the offensive zone, evaded a defender, passed the puck and maneuvered into open space for a one-timer that he unfortunately blasted high and wide.</p><p>“I loved how he turned and opened up, like, ‘I want it and I want to shoot it,’ ” Richardson said.</p><p>However, he also mentioned a rush with forward Connor Bedard early in the second period in which Reichel skated too deep too quickly and took himself out of the play. If he had instead pulled up around the net front, he could have been an option for Bedard or jammed in a potential rebound.</p><p>“I would like to see him try to not just be one-and-done,” Richardson said. “Shoot, reload, get open somewhere else for a second chance and be a threat. Because sometimes when someone gets a shot and the puck goes away, everybody’s eyes go away, and you get lost. You’re the guy that’s going to be the most dangerous if we get the puck back.”</p><p>Reichel’s entry-level deal expires this summer. Coming off such a disappointing season, it will be interesting to see how small his next contract turns out to be. He said he’s trying not to think about that.</p><p>In the meantime, he consciously attacked the net during a two-on-two drill Monday. He’s aware that’s the next step he needs to take.</p><p>Asked what he wants to prove during the closing stretch, he again brought up “killer instinct.” It's just a matter of actually translating his talents and flashes of improvement into results.</p>
https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2024/03/26/blackhawks-lukas-reichel-next-step-nhl-translate-possession-productionBen Pope2024-03-25T15:25:45.252-05:002024-03-26T10:12:45.381-05:00Blackhawks nearly locked into second-best lottery odds with 11 games left
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<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>After beating the Sharks, the Blackhawks seem locked into 31st place in the NHL standings.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Jeff Chiu/AP</p></div></div>
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<p>The <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks" target="_blank" >Blackhawks</a>’ last two results — losing to the Ducks and beating the Sharks — have gone a long way toward solidifying the bottom of the NHL standings.</p><p>With 11 games left for the Hawks and Ducks and 12 left for the Sharks, the Sharks have 40 points, the Hawks 45 and the Ducks 52.</p><p>The Sharks seem unlikely to make up a five-point gap during the final weeks of the season, and the Hawks seem equally unlikely to make up a seven-point gap — especially given how infrequently these bottom-dwellers earn points.</p><p>Above the Ducks, the 29th-place Blue Jackets sit at 58 points, creating another gap unlikely to be bridged.</p><p>That means the top of the draft-lottery order seems nearly locked in, even though the league hasn’t announced a date for the lottery yet.</p><p>Barring any huge movements, the Sharks will have a league-best 25.5% chance of ending up with the No. 1 pick and presumptive <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2024/1/8/24024648/blackhawks-2024-nhl-draft-options-macklin-celebrini-cole-eiserman-kyle-davidson" target="_blank" >top selection Macklin Celebrini</a>. The Hawks will have a 13.5% chance and the Ducks an 11.5% chance (the odds the Hawks won with last year).</p><p>The Hawks also will be guaranteed a top-four pick — they won’t be able to fall lower than that — but that matters less this year because the hierarchy of prospects beyond Celebrini is murky. Michigan State freshman defenseman Artyom Levshunov might be emerging as a slight favorite to go No. 2 overall, but even that is far from a sure thing.</p><p>Hypothetically, had the Hawks not pulled off their <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2024/03/24/blackhawks-sharks-historic-comeback-nhl-ryan-donato-seth-jones" target="_blank" >enormous comeback Saturday</a> against the Sharks — rallying from 4-0 down to win 5-4 in overtime — they still would be within shouting distance of the best lottery odds. Sweeping the three-game season series against the Sharks, however, accounts for the difference between the teams.</p><p>Despite the victory Saturday, however, coach Luke Richardson was angry about the Hawks’ overall effort on their three-game California trip — something he expressed at the end of practice Monday by bag-skating the team up and down the rink.</p><p>He called the first half of the game against the Sharks a ‘‘disaster’’ and obviously disliked that the Kings and Ducks <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2024/03/22/blackhawks-ducks-nhl-luke-richardson-lineup-jarred-tinordi" target="_blank" >outscored the Hawks</a> by a combined 11-2, too.</p><p>‘‘That’s just not professional enough for me,’’ Richardson said. ‘‘[Our bag skate reflected] the way the game is played: up and down the ice or over and back. It sets home that it’s really unacceptable for the standard that we want to have for work ethic. So we worked in practice today.’’</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center><div class="Enhancement-item">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Blackhawks lines in practice today— going for a balanced approach:<br>Donato-Bedard-Kurashev <br>Foligno-TJohnson-Raddysh <br>Entwistle-Athanasiou-Reichel <br>Slaggert-Dickinson-Anderson</p>— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenPopeCST/status/1772300483199180923?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
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</div></div><p>The forward lines were shuffled again to create a more balanced set of trios, with the most notable change being red-hot Ryan Donato joining Connor Bedard and Philipp Kurashev on the top line. Reese Johnson (concussion) and Connor Murphy (middle-body injury) skated individually before practice, but Colin Blackwell (upper-body injury) didn’t.</p><p>After two more games this week against subpar opponents — Tuesday against the Flames and Thursday against the Senators — the Hawks will close the season with nine consecutive matchups against teams in the playoff race, including six in the field now.</p><p></p><p>‘‘The season [has been] a difficult one for everybody,’’ defenseman Jarred Tinordi said. ‘‘We expected to take a step and improve a little bit [compared to last season]. I didn’t think we would be in the situation that we’re in now, but it is what it is. Now the goal is to try to finish the year off the way we want to.’’</p>
https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2024/03/25/blackhawks-nhl-draft-lottery-odds-second-best-sharks-ducks-locked-inBen Pope2024-03-25T06:30:00-05:002024-03-25T11:02:01.231-05:00Blackhawks prospect Samuel Savoie has more knowledge, same 'pop' after recovering from broken leg
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<img class="Image" alt="Sam Savoie with Rouyn-Noranda" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/020f381/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3200x1796+0+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff5%2Fa0%2F4ce6b2744a1f9e8c688fbb1aa98a%2Fsavoie4.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/84e0c43/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3200x1796+0+0/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff5%2Fa0%2F4ce6b2744a1f9e8c688fbb1aa98a%2Fsavoie4.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
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<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Blackhawks prospect Sam Savoie is finishing out the season in the QMJHL.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Jean Lapointe/Rouyn-Noranda Huskies</p></div></div>
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<p>Lying in a hospital bed in Minnesota on Oct. 1, having just undergone surgery on his broken right femur after a gruesome preseason injury, <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks" target="_blank" >Blackhawks</a> forward prospect Samuel Savoie figured his 2023-24 season was toast.</p><p>“The doctor told me . . . my body was going to decide when I’d play,” Savoie said. “I looked stuff up on my phone and talked to guys and heard the recovery can take six to eight months, so I wasn’t putting any high hopes.”</p><p>It turned out, however, that Savoie’s body had other ideas. The fact the injury happened while technically playing for the Hawks proved fortunate, too, as it meant Savoie had to stay in Chicago and work with Hawks trainers and doctors throughout his recovery.</p><p>By mid-January, the scrappy New Brunswick native had begun skating again, and on Feb. 1 — four months to the day after his surgery — he made his season debut for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, the junior team that acquired his QMJHL rights from Gatineau during his recovery.</p><p>“Obviously, you never want to see an injury like that, but with hindsight, looking at it now, a lot of positives came out of it,” Hawks assistant general manager Mark Eaton said. “[After] his time in Chicago, spending time around NHL players, you notice a maturation to his daily approach and his mentality.”</p><p>Savoie, who turns 20 on Monday, shares that perspective.</p><p>“I was lucky and unlucky to be in Chicago during that time,” he said. “It’s just the details. It’s completely different from juniors. Those guys, there’s a reason why they made it to that level and do that for a job.”</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center><div class="Enhancement-item">
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</div></div><p>His return to the ice happened to coincide with Nick Foligno’s recovery period from his broken finger in January, so they skated together quite a bit. Savoie can be added to the long list of young players whom Foligno has <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2024/02/20/blackhawks-nick-foligno-nhl-point-streak-overshadowed-big-picture-leadership" target="_blank" >helped mentor</a> this season.</p><p>Savoie also worked closely with Patrick Becker, the Hawks’ assistant strength and conditioning coach, from whom he learned more about his leg anatomy and how to strengthen it.</p><p>“The trainers . . . know your body probably better than you know it,” Savoie said. “They explain to you what’s happening there [and] why you’re sore there. All those questions that you ask, they answer, and they’re right on. And they also have exercises for you. You take what they tell you and bring it upstairs in the gym.”</p><p>With Rouyn-Noranda, Savoie gave himself 10 games “with no expectations” to scrape off the rust and find his game again. He had 22 points in 21 games in the regular season, which ended Saturday — basically matching his point-per-game pace of 59 points in 60 games last season.</p><p>“At the start, I thought my skating was not at my best — like it was before — but now it’s gotten a lot better,” Savoie said. “[I’m] just working on getting to the right spots at the right times to be more efficient.”</p><p>Said Eaton: “He still has that pop to his stride . . . [and] he’s not playing with any hesitation. Like you’d expect being out for that long, it’s just a matter of getting the game timing back — winning battles along the wall and realizing you have a little bit more time when you do.”</p><p>Savoie’s pesky style gives him a penchant for racking up penalty minutes, and his junior coaches have talked to him about being smarter and walking the line between feisty and dangerous. But the Hawks aren’t worried about it.</p><p>After all, his competitiveness and ability to irritate opponents are two major reasons why they drafted him. And in the AHL next season, he’ll need to fight hard to <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2023/8/5/23805812/blackhawks-prospect-rankings-2023-kevin-korchinski-oliver-moore-frank-nazar-drew-commesso" target="_blank" >keep up with pros </a>— and will be able to get away with more, too.</p><p>“You’ve got to let the mustangs run,” Eaton said.</p><div class="RelatedList Enhancement" data-module data-align-center>
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https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2024/03/25/blackhawks-prospect-sam-savoie-nhl-injury-recovery-nick-foligno-nouyn-norandaBen Pope2024-03-24T07:30:00-05:002024-03-25T11:06:00.635-05:00Blackhawks linemates Jason Dickinson, Joey Anderson enjoying remarkable consistency
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<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Blackhawks forwards Jason Dickinson (No. 16) and Joey Anderson (right) — and until his recent injury, Colin Blackwell (back left) — have spent the majority of the season together.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Matt Marton/AP </p></div></div>
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<p>SAN JOSE, Calif. — For a while, coach Luke Richardson could plan out the <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks" target="_blank" >Blackhawks</a>' lineup each night by first writing down one locked-in forward line: Jason Dickinson, Joey Anderson and Colin Blackwell.</p><p>"I kind of start there and work around," Richardson said.</p><p>Blackwell's <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2024/03/20/blackhawks-kings-nhl-wyatt-kaiser-colin-blackwell-injury-kevin-korchinski" target="_blank" >upper-body injury</a> this week has ended what was an extremely long run for that trio, but Dickinson and Anderson have remained together, now just alongside veteran Nick Foligno or rookie Landon Slaggert.</p><p>Analytically, the Hawks haven't found any more effective forward duo this season than Dickinson and Anderson, who were immediately put together when Anderson was called up from Rockford <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2023/12/13/24000639/blackhawks-joey-anderson-nhl-roster-spot-boris-katchouk-waivers-jason-dickinson-line" target="_blank" >in late November</a> and have never really been separated.</p><p>In the 467 minutes they've spent together in five-on-five situations, the Hawks have outscored opponents 19-15 and generated a 51.0% scoring-chance ratio. Conversely, when neither has been present on the ice, the Hawks have been outscored by a 147-63 margin and generated a 41.6% scoring-chance ratio.</p><p>In a loss-filled season in which most of the bright spots have been individuals — Connor Bedard, Alex Vlasic, etc. — the success of Dickinson and Anderson represents a rare example of something within the team construction working well.</p><p>“[The chemistry] was pretty evident right away,” Anderson said. “It didn’t take long to figure out. We knew right away, ‘All right, we’re winning battles, pucks are going to predictable areas [and] we can read off each other.’</p><p>“Especially defensively, we’re not making ‘hope’ plays. Pucks are getting out in the neutral zone [because] we’re getting them out. Pucks in the neutral zone, we’re getting them in. It’s a really efficient way to play, and it has led to that stability.”</p><p>This is a new experience for both of them. Anderson has bounced between the NHL and AHL throughout his career and already has set career highs in games played and points this season. He hasn’t played this much with any linemate since his two college seasons at Minnesota-Duluth. Dickinson, meanwhile, has historically been a self-described Swiss Army knife, moving up and down lineups.</p><p>Over several months, however, he and Anderson have noticed how much more familiar they’ve become with each other’s tendencies and how helpful that is.</p><p>“There are a lot more little nuances that you pick up on that stay consistent and [become] second nature,” Dickinson said. “They don’t have to be thought about. They just happen because we’ve been doing it for 40 games at this point. We just know, ‘He’s going to be there. He tends to be there. If he’s not, he’s going to come to the bench and apologize.’ ”</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
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<img class="Image" alt="Jason Dickinson" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c698cbe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2284x1282+0+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F0b%2Fe6%2F166247894a6781a62b47cfe53f1b%2Fblackhawks-avalanche-hockey-3.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a1e7eef/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2284x1282+0+0/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F0b%2Fe6%2F166247894a6781a62b47cfe53f1b%2Fblackhawks-avalanche-hockey-3.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
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<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Jason Dickinson and his line have focused on creating more possession after forechecking.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>David Zalubowski/AP Photos</p></div></div>
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</div><p>Defense <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2024/1/16/24038377/jason-dickinson-blackhawks-contract-extension-nhl-trade-rumors-kyle-davidson" target="_blank" >is their specialty</a>, and Richardson uses them almost every game — particularly at home with last change — to match up against opponents’ top lines. Dickinson, as a center and also as the Hawks’ best defensive forward, is typically the low man in the D-zone structure, but his comfort with Anderson and Blackwell made it easy for them to switch when desired or necessary.</p><p>They have made some adjustments offensively to try to produce more in that regard, as well. Most of their forays in the offensive zone begin with dump-and-chase forechecking rather than crafty entries over the blue line — that’s just not their style. For a while, they were struggling to gain and maintain possession after forechecking.</p><p>More recently, the first thing they try to do — upon retrieving the puck on the forecheck — is move it side-to-side below the goal line. That has worked well.</p><p>“Nine times out of 10, the [defensive] team is going to swarm the one side [where the puck gets dumped],” said Dickinson, always eager to discuss hockey’s minutiae. “Their winger will lock off the half-wall, and their center will be above the middle guy and be a support there.</p><p>“So, naturally, what’s open? The opposite side. They’ve got three guys already over there. If they’ve only got two on the other side, we’ve got a slight advantage to go two-on-two on a side that’s a little bit more open.”</p><p>Even off the ice, Dickinson and Anderson have become good friends, bonding as new fathers of baby daughters who were born only four months apart.</p><p>“As I’m coming into sleep regressions, [Joey is] like, ‘Just you wait — we went through it with ours,’ ” Dickinson said.</p><p>With only 10 games left in the season, they’re nearing the end of this run of consistency, and there’s no guarantee it will continue in the fall. Anderson is a pending free agent this summer, and even if he re-signs, other additions could jumble the Hawks’ depth chart.</p><p>Richardson has mentioned they ought to appreciate what they’ve built and enjoyed together this season, and it seems like they’re doing exactly that.</p><p>“I think they really understand there’s a special connection there,” Richardson said. “When there’s something really good in hockey, you know it’s not going to last forever. But if you’re having success, why not stick with it as long as you can?”<br></p>
https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2024/03/24/blackhawks-jason-dickinson-joey-anderson-linemates-consistency-colin-blackwell-nhlBen Pope2024-03-24T01:14:59.582-05:002024-03-24T01:15:59.502-05:00Blackhawks pull off historic comeback to beat Sharks in overtime
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<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>The Blackhawks rallied to beat the Sharks 5-4 in overtime on Saturday.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Jeff Chiu/AP Photos</p></div></div>
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<p>SAN JOSE, Calif. — The <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks" target="_blank" >Blackhawks</a> have produced plenty of awful periods this season, but their first period Saturday against the Sharks might have been their worst yet, especially when considering the caliber of opponent. </p><p>The Hawks haven't often recovered when things have gone poorly this season, however, and their resilient effort to do so Saturday deserves plenty of praise, even when considering the caliber of opponent.</p><p>The Hawks rallied from 4-0 down to win 5-4 in overtime, completing just the fifth successful comeback from a four-goal deficit in franchise history — and the first since a famous comeback against the Flames early in the 2009-10 championship season.</p><p>"It was quite the roller coaster," said Seth Jones, who ripped the winning shot past Sharks rookie goalie Devin Cooley just 18 seconds into the extra frame.</p><p>"That shows a lot of determination [and] grit in this room. We all banded together. A lot of times this year, we've separated and tried to do it ourselves. Tonight, we really hunkered down and we did it together."</p><p>Jones <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2024/02/22/seth-jones-blackhawks-losing-emotional-weight-nhl" target="_blank" >took responsibility</a> for an awful start in which the Hawks looked confused, disconnected and disengaged right from puck drop. He turned the puck over nearly every time he touched it, and he was far from the only sluggish Hawk. </p><p>The Sharks finished the opening frame with a 2-0 lead and a 17-8 scoring-chance advantage. When they added two more quick goals early in the second, Jones said it felt like another "one of those nights" on the road, where the Hawks had lost 25 of their last 26 contests.</p><p>Coach Luke Richardson exploded on the team with a rant that Ryan Donato described as "a little scary."</p><p>"I like to keep calm because [that usually gets] the message across, but tonight was a circumstance where they needed a little less calm," Richardson said.</p><p>Richardson also shuffled the lines and discovered an effective makeshift trio in the form of Ryan Donato alongside Tyler Johnson and Taylor Raddysh. </p><p>Donato, who has played <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2024/03/14/blackhawks-ryan-donato-nhl-finding-game-shooting-forechecking" target="_blank" >by far his best hockey</a> over the past month, gave the Hawks life with a nifty rebound goal and a behind-the-net setup of a Johnson goal. He now touts 10 points in his last 13 games after tallying just five points in his previous 34.</p><p>"[When] you get confident, you tend to be a little more aggressive and you play on your toes," Donato said. "You’re not sitting back, waiting to see what they’re going to do. You’re the aggressor, you finish checks and get turnovers and get chances."</p><p>Added Richardson: "He doesn’t just get his goal and then go away. He just continued to push all night. You saw it everywhere on the ice."</p><p>In the third period, Jones pulled the Hawks within one, Petr Mrazek made a splendid save to deny Sharks forward Thomas Bordeleau a hat trick and then — with 47 seconds left — Donato tossed the puck into a netfront scrum and Philipp Kurashev banged it in to tie the game.</p><p>"It’s easy to pack it in this time of the year, with our record and where we’re going," Richardson said. "We’re not going to get to the playoffs. But we’re playing for lots of things. There’s guys playing for jobs and contracts. They’re playing for pride. The character they showed tonight was a good step in the right direction."</p>
https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2024/03/24/blackhawks-sharks-historic-comeback-nhl-ryan-donato-seth-jonesBen Pope2024-03-23T18:47:57.932-05:002024-03-24T00:35:56.159-05:00Blackhawks notes: Connor Bedard adjusting to NHL defensemen with 'shorter plays'
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<img class="Image" alt="Connor Bedard" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b390162/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6000x3367+0+233/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fe1%2F89%2Fdb06d26e47eb8263e2d4226e2ddb%2Fbedard-30.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c5c0577/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6000x3367+0+233/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fe1%2F89%2Fdb06d26e47eb8263e2d4226e2ddb%2Fbedard-30.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
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<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Connor Bedard continues to make adjustments as his rookie season winds down.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Ryan Sun/AP Photos</p></div></div>
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<p>SAN JOSE, Calif. — NHL defensemen are much better than junior-hockey defensemen. They will break up plays that often used to work for <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks" target="_blank" >Blackhawks</a> rookie <b>Connor Bedard</b>, even though his ability to make those plays hasn’t declined at all.</p><p>That’s a big thing Hawks coach <b>Luke Richardson</b> has seen Bedard learn and adjust to during the season.</p><p>“Earlier in the year, he was trying to make big, lofty passes side to side when stopping in the [offensive] zone when he’s by himself,” Richardson said. “In this league, not a lot [is] going to come from it.</p><p>“He’s realizing that now. He’s trying to suck people to him, and that buys time for someone to get close to him. He’s making shorter plays or laying [the puck] in behind the other defensive players.”</p><p>Bedard said that at this point, he “can tell if something’s not going to work, and then you go to the safer option.”</p><p>Entering Saturday, he had opened up a 14-point lead in the rookie scoring race with 54 points in 56 games. Second-place Wild defenseman <b>Brock Faber</b> has 40 points in 71 games.</p><p><b>Faber appreciation</b></p><p>The Calder Trophy race isn’t entirely determined by scoring, though, and Wild fans often cite Faber’s defensive excellence when making a case for their own first-year standout. It’s a flawed stat, but Faber did enter Saturday with a plus-five rating compared to Bedard’s minus-39.</p><p>For the record, Bedard appreciates Faber’s game as much as anyone.</p><p>“I’ve only played [the Wild] once, but I noticed how much he means to that team,” Bedard said. “He’s so solid. He’s a great player, and it’s been a lot of fun to watch him.”</p><p><b>.Murphy missed</b></p><p>Veteran Hawks defenseman <b>Connor Murphy</b> missed his 28th consecutive game. He hasn’t played <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2024/1/13/24037320/blackhawks-stars-nhl-seth-jones-injury-return-turnover-alex-vlasic-philipp-kurashev" target="_blank" >since Jan. 13</a> because of what Richardson has described as a “soft-tissue” injury in his “middle body.”</p><p>As of Monday, Murphy hadn’t even begun skating on his own, so it seems questionable or even doubtful that he could return this season.</p><p>His absence probably hasn’t been discussed as much as it should be. Rookie defenseman <b>Kevin Korchinski</b> would almost certainly be faring better if paired with Murphy rather than <b>Jaycob Megna</b>.</p><p>“He eats 20 minutes a night, is hard defensively, has big hits . . . and has dropped the gloves a few times this year,” <b>Seth Jones</b> said. “He’s a big loss on the ice and off. He says stuff in the locker room that is important and is timed well for what we need.”<br></p>
https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2024/03/23/blackhawks-connor-bedard-nhl-shorter-plays-brock-faber-connor-murphy-injuryBen Pope