The Blackhawks aren’t feeling celebratory about tying their season-long level streak.
In any case, the streak’s size is simply three video games, and the Hawks have gained solely one of many three. They blew a two-goal lead in a 4-3 extra time loss to the Hurricanes on Monday, following up an extra time defeat towards the Predators and a victory over the Golden Knights.
The Hurricanes are all the time one of many NHL’s most trigger-happy groups and so they justified that status Monday, peppering Hawks goalie Petr Mrazek with 91 shot makes an attempt and 48 photographs on purpose.
Mrazek was spectacular at occasions, however Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal finally poked in a unfastened puck Mrazek thought he had lined to tie the sport with 6:23 left in regulation and Sebastian Aho blasted a one-timer previous him 59 seconds into extra time.
“We didn’t assist the puck properly sufficient to interrupt it out of our finish and [our] wingers didn’t do a adequate job on the partitions,” Taylor Corridor mentioned. “So [the Hurricanes] stored a ton of pucks in and…overwhelmed us at occasions all through the sport.”
Philipp Kurashev, making his return to the lineup, and Ryan Donato had every tallied two factors on the Hawks’ fourth line.
Teuvo nostalgia
Hawks followers spent years lacking Teuvo Teravainen earlier than lastly getting him again this season.
Now, the Hurricanes are the staff lacking Teravainen’s presence. The Finnish ahead didn’t match of their salary-cap scenario final summer season, in order that they needed to let him stroll after eight years of their group, however their appreciation for him hasn’t waned.
“He’s one of many extra proficient gamers and definitely one of many highest-hockey-sense [players around],” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour mentioned Monday. “He is aware of the sport. No matter scenario you set him in, he’s most likely the neatest man on the market.”
In Chicago, Teravainen acquired off to a sizzling begin, then endured a drought and now has discovered a rhythm below interim coach Anders Sorensen.
He has 20 factors in his final 17 video games, however since 16 of these factors are assists, the offensive surge hasn’t thrust him into the highlight — which he doesn’t precisely take pleasure in anyway. He gained’t be capable of keep away from it, nevertheless, because the Hawks’ lone consultant within the 4 Nations Face-Off subsequent month.
His defensive play has been strong, too, and he’s being utilized in a defensive position proper now alongside Jason Dickinson and Ilya Mikheyev. He’s arduous on himself and has admitted the Hawks’ shedding methods are difficult for him to tolerate, however he hasn’t been the issue.
“[Teuvo’s] poise stands out,” Sorensen mentioned. “He’s assertive, he is aware of the place strain’s coming from and he places his physique in a great place.”
Notes
The Hawks have employed former Wild and Coyotes government Chris O’Hearn as their new vice chairman of hockey operations, a supply confirmed Monday. O’Hearn is named a salary-cap and contract-negotiation professional. He joins Norm Maciver, Brian Campbell, Meghan Hunter and Mark Eaton basically supervisor Kyle Davidson’s interior circle.
Hawks ahead Pat Maroon is day-to-day with a again damage, Sorensen mentioned. Dickinson additionally left Monday’s sport after taking a tough shot to his proper forearm however “must be fantastic,” Sorensen mentioned.
