NEWSLETTER
You would have expected that the Blackhawks, fresh off an overtime win against the Washington Capitals and playing against a team that has been depleted due to the recent COVID outbreak in the NHL, which was also playing on night two of back-to-back games, would have had an easier night than they ended up having against the Predators tonight. You would have expected that, and you would have been wrong.
Twice the Blackhawks had to come back to tie the game tonight, and after Jonathan Toews evened things up late in the third period to secure at least one point in the standings, Roman Josi and Tanner Jeannot made sure that would be all the Blackhawks “earned” tonight. Nashville extends their winning-streak to seven games, while the Blackhawks continue to alternate wins and losses over their last 14 games (7-6-1).
With the overtime loss tonight, Chicago is now 11-15-3 this season, 10-6-1 under Derek King since November 7. They are now 6-1 in overtime or the shootout this season since November 7, losing their perfect record tonight.
After falling behind in the first period, a great forechecking effort from the Kirby Dach-Dominik KubalĂk-MacKenzie Entwistle line ended with a reward for Dach as he buried the 1-1 tying goal. His second goal in his last five games and fifth of the season.
Just what the Dach-tor ordered đź©ş pic.twitter.com/ZoU9mfFLq0
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) December 18, 2021
Dach, Entwistle, and KubalĂk all now have mini point-streaks with Dach having a point in three-straight games, Entwistle and KubalĂk in back-to-back contests. The game would be tied through the rest of the first period and the second period, even with Chicago being out-shot 15-6 in the middle frame.
Nashville would regain the lead in the third period, their second powerplay goal of the night to take a 2-1 lead. Late ink the period, Chicago found the equalizing goal again, this time from a wide-open Jonathan Toews.
Tie game! Toews with his 3rd goal in his last 4 games!#Blackhawks #CHIvsNSH pic.twitter.com/enCR5oKaPX
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) December 18, 2021
After not scoring in the first 25 games of the season, Toews now has three goals in his last four games and is on a four-game point-streak. We talked about the floodgates opening for Toews after getting that first goal of the season and we are seeing it now. A little bit of confidence goes a long way.
Chicago locked up one point in the standings thanks to Toews’ equalizer, but in the overtime period, the Predators found the winner from Tanner Jeannot.
It's Jeann-OT! #Preds win! pic.twitter.com/9inbfxWrtG
— Bally Sports: Preds (@PredsOnBally) December 18, 2021
This was a game that the Blackhawks should have won. As I mentioned, the Predators were on game two of back-to-back games and have eight players and their entire coaching staff in COVID protocol. This lineup is made of nearly half AHL players. The Blackhawks had no excuse not to come away with a win tonight and they were dominated, quite frankly.
Chicago is now the one that will be on night two of back-to-back games as they head to Dallas to face the Stars tomorrow night.
Find the full box score here.
