The Blackhawks’ three-game profitable streak ended Saturday, however their elevated offensive efficiency underneath interim coach Anders Sorensen didn’t disappear.
The Hawks mounted an admirable third-period rally in a 6-4 loss to the Flames, slicing a four-goal deficit to at least one in time for a last-gasp shift within the offensive zone earlier than an empty-net marker sealed their destiny.
Connor Bedard, who completed with three factors, arrange two Tyler Bertuzzi tap-ins after which red-hot Ilya Mikheyev banged in a rebound with 1:08 left. It’s the second time in two weeks underneath Sorensen that the Hawks have lower a 5-1 deficit to 5-4; additionally they did so in opposition to the Islanders on Dec. 12.
The Hawks’ most spectacular staff stat from this total irritating season remained alive, too. They’ve now been main, tied or inside one purpose in some unspecified time in the future within the third interval in 33 of 34 video games.
They have been sloppy, nonetheless, whereas digging such a deep gap. The flip facet of Sorensen’s offense-oriented system modifications is that neutral-zone turnovers usually tend to create odd-man rushes in opposition to, and that was the case Saturday.
Goalie Petr Mrazek produced a blended bag of leads to his return after lacking a pair weeks resulting from a full bag of issues (a minor groin harm, the flu and a household well being problem). He made a miraculous stick save early however conceded a number of softer objectives because the afternoon progressed and completed with simply 24 saves on 29 photographs.
The Flames’ energy play went 1-for-5, snapping the Hawks’ streak of 33 consecutive profitable penalty kills. The one alternative they transformed most likely shouldn’t have been a possibility in any respect, although.
Flames ahead Martin Pospisil delivered hits to the heads of each Bedard and Frank Nazar however wasn’t penalized on both event; Ryan Donato was despatched to the field as a substitute for stepping in and preventing Pospisil after the Nazar incident. Pospisil and Bertuzzi have been in the end each ejected after a scrum within the ultimate minutes.
Jones returns, too
Veteran defenseman Seth Jones, like Mrazek, was additionally rusty in his return to the lineup after lacking 16 video games.
He logged a team-high 26:42 of ice time however dedicated a turnover that led to a Flames shorthanded purpose. Sorensen put Alex Vlasic, who improved his power-play quarterbacking abilities throughout Jones’ absence, again atop the primary unit after that.
Jones stated Friday he performed by a damaged bone in his foot Nov. 14 in Seattle due to adrenaline, however he had a sense after the sport it was a big harm. When it hadn’t improved a lot after 3.5 weeks, he was getting annoyed — and fearful about lacking the Winter Traditional — but it surely lastly obtained over the hump the final 10 days or so.
Truth test
Some Hawks followers on social media Saturday insisted the Hawks can be higher off with out Jones, however that’s empirically incorrect. For the reason that begin of 2022-23, the Hawks have a .354 factors proportion with Jones within the lineup (going 50-96-11) in comparison with a .333 factors proportion with out him (going 11-24-4).
They’ve additionally scored 43.3% of the objectives throughout five-on-five play with Jones on the ice (outscored 136-104) in comparison with 37.3% of the objectives with out Jones (outscored 347-206).
