NEWSLETTER
Stop me if you have heard this before: The Chicago Blackhawks are having a rough go of it in March.
Have you stopped me yet? Because I would have stopped myself.
• We all knew the stretch of schedule in March was going to be difficult for the Blackhawks and it has lived up to the worry. Chicago is 2-6-1 in March, allowing an average of 4.22 goals per game (28th in the NHL over that span) and only scoring 2.33 goals per game (26th in the NHL) in the month. They have faced all teams who have .500 points percentages or better in those nine games.
• Chicago has the worst face-off percentage in the NHL in March at 44.0%.
• 14 Teams have played at least six games in March where they have scored the game’s first goal, including the Blackhawks. Chicago holds the worst record of those 14 teams at 1-4-1.
• Chicago had earned the second-fewest amount of points (5) in the NHL in the month of March, only ahead of the Buffalo Sabres with one point. The Blackhawks also have just one regulation win in March, only better than the Sabres and Anaheim Ducks with zero regulation wins, although the Ducks have three wins in overtime or the shootout.
• Since the beginning of March, Kevin Lankinen and Malcolm Subban have fallen back to Earth, so to say, and are now looking more like league-average goaltenders and not Vezina-caliber ones. Since March 4th, Lankinen is 1-4-1 with a .887 save percentage and has allowed 22 goals over his last six starts. Subban is 1-2-0 since March 5th, dropping his last two starts and allowing 13 over that span. The Blackhawks’ team save percentage at five-on-five since March 1st is 24th in the NHL at .910.
• There’s not much hope in sight that Chicago will be able to turn things around in the next two games, both of which come against the Florida Panthers, whom the Blackhawks have yet to beat this season. Although, as mentioned in yesterday’s notes, the Blackhawks have the fewest games (10) remaining against the top-three teams in the Central Division out of the three teams in the playoff hunt (Chicago, Dallas, Columbus).
• On the transactions front, the Blackhawks made more roster moves today, nearly identical to the ones made on Sunday. Four players head back to the Rockford IceHogs from the Taxi Squad, with six players being recalled back from the IceHogs and being placed on the Taxi Squad for Chicago. Notably, MacKenzie Entwistle makes his return to the Blackhawks and will make his NHL debut tonight against the Panthers.
Colliton on MacKenzie Entwistle: "He’s been getting better as the year goes on here. … He’s been steadily improving here over the last few weeks. He was really good the past two games [in #AHL] so we’re excited to get him in here and see if he can give us a spark." #Blackhawks
— Brandon Cain (@brandonmcain) March 23, 2021
• Another reason to celebrate tonight is because this is the first time the Blackhawks have been back in the United Center since Patrick Kane played his 1,000th NHL game. Kane reached the mark on March 9th in Dallas, the first game of the six-game road trip that Chicago just completed.
• In honor of Kane’s 1,000th game, the Blackhawks are selling these limited edition “1Kane’ shirts.
.@Brinksy97 and @stromer19 showed up to morning skate dressed to impress their teammate.
These exclusive #1Kane tees just hit the @BlackhawksStore today! It's a limited run so order now: https://t.co/dxU6E5uWEQ pic.twitter.com/9G0Aof4z2I
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 23, 2021
• They are also looking for fans to submit virtual fan cutouts to help “fill” the United Center with “fans” for Kane’s 1,000th game celebration. I’m not sure that is exactly what he had in mind when he said he wanted to wait to celebrate the achievement until fans were allowed back into the arena.
• Kane has had a bit of a slump in recent weeks. Now granted, a slump for him is like a career-best year for some NHLers. But he has just two points over his last four games and was held off the scoresheet for the last two games against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
• This was just the second time this season where Kane had not registered a point in back-to-back games. He has only one three-game stretch without registering a point over the past two and a half seasons, coming on October 22-26, 2019.
• While there may not be fans in-person in the stands at the United Center, another familiar face for Kane will be there for another milestone celebration.
Joel Quenneville's first game back at the United Center was when Patrick Kane was honored for 1,000 points. Quenneville's second game will be tonight when Kane is honored for his 1,000th game. #Blackhawks #1Kane
Quenneville's thoughts on it: pic.twitter.com/M7F6fqySPk
— Brandon Cain (@brandonmcain) March 23, 2021
• Speaking of milestones, on this day in 1994, Wayne Gretzky became the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer with his 802nd career tally, passing Gordie Howe’s previous record.
https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1374372334967005185?s=20
• Gretzky finished his career with 894 goals. The next closest active goal-scorer in the NHL now is Alex Ovechkin with 720 goals, good for sixth all-time. Behind Ovechkin on the active list is Patrick Marleau with 563 goals (25th all-time) and behind him is Sidney Crosby with 474 goals (53rd all-time). For Ovechkin to catch Gretzky’s record, he would have to average 34.8 goals per year over the next five seasons, making him play until he is 40-years-old. I’m not sure Ovechkin wants to play that many more season, even if he physically could. Time will tell.
• Another Alex, Alex Nylander, is getting closer to full-health after having knee surgery prior to this past January’s training camp. He posted a video of his recovery workout yesterday on social media and looks like he is getting stronger. Good sign for the recently turned 23-year-old.
Progress. Getting stronger pic.twitter.com/uvU3s0R44p
— Alex Nylander (@snipeshow98) March 22, 2021
• Happening early this morning, the NHL Board of Governors agreed to make changes to the draft lottery system. The changes will all be effect starting in 2022, but one change (only top two picks will be up for the lottery, not top three) will be implemented in this summer’s lottery.
• Finally, today is National Puppy Day, or as we call it in my house “Any day.” But to celebrate, take a look at some of the adorable dogs that populate the Blackhawks households…
https://twitter.com/NHLBlackhawks/status/1374379156302135296?s=20
• Dogs are the best.
• Have a good Tuesday! We’ll see you tonight for Blackhawks and Panthers.
