NEWSLETTER
A little bit of hope died last night in a 5-2 loss by the Chicago Blackhawks to the Nashville Predators, their sixth loss to the Predators this season. Watching the opening of the third period, I felt like I was Ralph Wiggum when Lisa Simpson broke his heart, I could see and feel the exact moment my playoff spirit for the Blackhawks broke. It was the Luke Kunin goal to make it a 5-2 game. Damnit, Luke. Why did it have to be a former Wisconsin Badger to break my heart like that?
With the loss, and a Dallas Stars win last night, the Blackhawks fell to sixth-place in the Central Division. They trail the Predators by four points in the standings and now trail the Stars by a point for fifth-place. Two more games remain against the Predators this season and it is unlikely, given the history between the Blackhawks and Predators over the last four years, that Chicago will make a miraculous turnaround and get right back into contention. I’m happy to be wrong, but I don’t think I will be.
• I ran this poll last night following the game. Even with the recency-bias of the result, it appears overwhelmingly that Blackhawks fans are feeling the same sense. The thought of making the playoffs is all but over.
Knee-jerk reaction:
Are the #Blackhawks playoff hopes dead?— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) April 20, 2021
• Faltering in big moments has somewhat become the calling card for the Blackhawks under head coach Jeremy Colliton. Aside from winning the play-in series against an unmotivated Edmonton Oilers team last summer, when the lights have shined brightest on the Blackhawks in the past three seasons, when they’ve had big moments to swing momentum or move up in the standings, or even get a win on a special night (Patrick Kane’s 1,000th game comes to mind), they fall flat more often than not.
• I’m not sure where they go from here, but a win on Wednesday for Chicago, and for Detroit, would do wonders for the sliver of hope and optimism that still resides in my heart and the hearts of many other Blackhawks fans.
Alex DeBrincat: "It sucks. We had a few breakdowns, about two minutes of poor hockey, and they score four goals."
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) April 20, 2021
• Punches in bunches will do a lot of damage in boxing or MMA, and the same goes for hockey with goals coming in quick succession. Chicago allowed two goals in 51 seconds in the second period to blow Nashville’s lead at the time to 3-1, and then started the third period with two goals in 18 seconds to drive the nail in the coffin of the game.
Turnover, bad defensive coverage. Preds up 2-1.
Turnover, breakaway. Preds up 3-1.
Murphy loses his helmet. Tons of open ice. Preds up 4-2.
Turnover by de Haan. Preds up 5-2.Game. Over.
— John Dietz (@johndietzdh) April 20, 2021
• Bad defensive reads and turnovers continue to plague the Blackhawks. But, it also doesn’t help when it feels like the Hockey Gods, who once smiled upon the Blackhawks, have now turned their backs to them.
• The most egregious incident was on the 4-2 goal to open the third period. Connor Murphy loses his helmet in a puck battle and, by rule, must immediately leave the ice if he cannot retrieve his helmet. Murphy leaves, two Predators are left unchecked in front of Kevin Lankinen, Nashville scores.
Tanner Jeannot and Yakov Trenin just going to the front of the net.
Jeannot scores his 2nd NHL goal. #Preds pic.twitter.com/kh6kdWS6zK
— Alex Daugherty (@AlexDaugherty1) April 20, 2021
• You can see in the video, Murphy’s helmet doing almost as good of a job as the Blackhawks on defense.
Murphy: "I don't really like that rule that you have to leave the play… You're not knocking your own helmet off. Guy puts his arm around your head, knocks your helmet off, and he ends up getting a free pass to the net… Maybe it's worth taking a penalty because that's crazy."
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) April 20, 2021
• 18 seconds after the 4-2 goal, Duncan Keith blows a tire in transition and Luke Kunin is left wide open in front of Kevin Lankinen and buries the 5-2 goal. Game over.
• It didn’t help last night that the Blackhawks were shorthanded defensively for about 90% of the game. Early in the first period, defenseman Wyatt Kalynuk took a hit along the boards and had to leave the game. He didn’t return and Chicago was down to five defensemen for the remainder of the game.
Colliton on Kalynuk: "I don't know the timeline, but obviously he couldn't come back."
"It just seems to be a constant thing where we're playing games with 5 D."
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) April 20, 2021
• Chicago was also a bit shorthanded in their forwards group as well, with Brandon Hagel being a late scratch after a delay with his COVID test results. After the game, it was revealed he had another false positive test and didn’t get his result in time to play. This is the second time Hagel has had a false positive in three weeks.
Jeremy Colliton said they needed another negative test for Brandon Hagel to prove it was a false positive, and just couldn't get it done in time.
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) April 20, 2021
• With Hagel out, newly acquired forward Adam Gaudette would make his Blackhawks debut on the first line with Alex DeBrincat and Kirby Dach. Talk about a big opportunity in your first game.
• And talk about not getting a chance to take advantage of it. Although Gaudette did register his first assist as a Blackhawk on David Kämpf’s goal to make it 3-2 in the second period, Gaudette was not given ample ice-time.
So much for Adam Gaudette's big opportunity on the 1st line in his Hawks debut tonight.
Ended up playing just 7:39, second-fewest minutes on the team.
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) April 20, 2021
• Chicago has ten games remaining this season. All ten of them are now going to be against teams that are ahead of them in the Central Division standings. Of the Predators, Blackhawks, and Stars, Chicago has the toughest schedule ahead of them as the three teams battle for the final playoff spot. I’m an optimistic person, but I’m not that optimistic.
• Hey! Here’s some good news for Blackhawks and Bulls fans, apparently Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot believes that fans may return to the United Center before the seasons end!
Mayor Lightfoot Expects Fans at the UC Before the End of the Seasonhttps://t.co/VEhnF38MHM
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) April 20, 2021
• Just in time for the Blackhawks to possibly not be in the playoff hunt. Woo.
• It’s a somewhat somber Blackhawks birthday today as Brent Seabrook turns 36 -years-old today. You hate to see a player that has meant so much to the organization for so many years not get to celebrate his birthday with his teammates, like I’m sure he expected to do a few months ago.
A Happy 36th Birthday to Brent Seabrook! #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/1WWhiNtz9W
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) April 20, 2021
• As much as his play had declined in recent years, you still gotta love Brent Seabrook and his legacy with the Blackhawks.
• Speaking of legacies, a huge milestone record was broken in the NHL last night as Patrick Marleau passed Gordie Howe for the most NHL games every played with his 1,768th game.
Patrick Marleau has officially played more games in the National Hockey League than anyone else. 👏
1,768 career games. #SJSharks pic.twitter.com/pwVjspiVcA
— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) April 20, 2021
• Marleau is a lock for the Hockey Hall of Fame with over 500 goals in his career and nearing 1,200 points. He now holds the record for most NHL games played and was part of two Olympic Gold Medal teams with Canada in 2010 and 2014. He has 195 career Stanley Cup playoff games under his belt as well.
A special moment for Patrick Marleau in Vegas.
Thank you @GoldenKnights and @NHL! #HistoryMarleaud pic.twitter.com/DEZWrr3UKL
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) April 20, 2021
• Marleau was honored last night by seemingly everyone across the NHL last night, but the most attention-grabbing tribute came from his former teammates with the Toronto Maple Leafs as young stars Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner paid tribute, with a cameo from Marleau’s long-time San Jose Sharks teammate Joe Thornton.
What a league! 🤣#HistoryMarleaud pic.twitter.com/ck0RLfQ9A7
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) April 20, 2021
• You can see just how much every one of his 1,768 games has meant to Marleau.
Marleau got emotional when talking about his love for the game 😢 pic.twitter.com/6jZGQY7vgw
— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) April 20, 2021
• What an honor for such a likable player and person. Congratulations!
•. That’s all for today. Have yourselves a good Tuesday!
