The Chicago Blackhawks are facing a historic slump, with a 19-game road losing streak and their second-driest offensive drought since 1957, managing only 17 goals in their last 13 games. Despite a strong showing against the Calgary Flames, where they outshot the opponent 11-10 and had more scoring chances in the first period, they couldn't capitalize on six breakaways and remained scoreless, extending their goalless streak to 126 minutes. The Flames, supported by Jacob Markstrom's goaltending, scored a power-play goal by Elias Lindholm, who ended his 15-game goal drought. Blackhawks' Korchinski made a crucial save, but the team still trailed 1-0 at the second intermission, even with a 12-3 advantage in high-danger chances at 5on5. Star player Connor Bedard is still out, healing from a fractured jaw.
The Blackhawks haven't scored in their last 126 minutes of play.
2nd intermission: Flames 1, Blackhawks 0 The best the Hawks have played in forever...and they're losing anyway. Shot attempts: 40-43 CGY Shots on goal: 20-23 CGY Scoring chances: 23-21 CHI High-danger chances at 5on5 are 12-3 CHI.
END OF PERIOD 2: The Blackhawks are playing really, really well. They're also trailing 1-0, because life is hilariously cruel.
Elias Lindholm pots a power-play goal, his first marker since before Christmas. That snaps a 15-game goal drought for the #Flames all-star rep.
GOAL, Flames. Hawks trail 1-0. Lindholm PPG after the puck was blocked right to him.
#Blackhawks have had so many breakaways tonight and we're not even halfway through the game yet. https://t.co/eJwvjdlOt5
Relying on Jacob Markstrom to keep the game scoreless between the #Flames and -this- version of the Chicago Blackhawks partway through the second period sums up a -lot- of what the Calgary Flames play has been of late.
Markstrom robs Kurashev on a breakaway. The Blackhawks have had, no joke, like six breakaways already tonight, yet it's 0-0.
1st intermission: Blackhawks 0, Flames 0 Korchinski saves a goal in the final seconds. Really strong period for the Hawks, as the stats show: Shot attempts: 23-20 CHI Shots on goal: 11-10 CHI Scoring chances: 16-9 CHI
END OF PERIOD 1: Blackhawks play their best period in quite some time, but have nothing to show for it. Flames came perilously close to a goal in the waning seconds. Shots are 11-10 Chicago.
The Blackhawks have played very well through these first 16 minutes. They deserve some goals for this performance.
The Blackhawks have lost 19 straight road games. Connor Bedard is still out, healing from a fractured jaw. Itβs ππ‘πππ in Chicago, writes @MarkLazerus. Let's visit a different timeline. A better(?) timeline. One where the Blackhawks don't tank β€΅οΈ https://t.co/bBqhjFZmOr https://t.co/SqIGtV5lQ7
The Blackhawks are making bad kinds of history not only with their road losing streak but also with their lack of offense. They've scored just 17 goals in their last 13 games β their second-driest drought since 1957. New story breaking it down: https://t.co/pkJBB4fJWN