As the losses pile up, frustration continues to consume the Chicago Blackhawks.
Meanwhile, the Nashville Predators still are trying to find ways to win games consistently.
The Blackhawks look to avoid a fourth consecutive overall defeat — and seventh straight on the road — when they face the Predators on Thursday.
Owner of a league-low 30 points, Chicago has dropped nine of the past 11 games, and even young star Connor Bedard has not been able to spark the rebuilding squad. Bedard scored to record his 100th career point Monday against the Calgary Flames, but the Blackhawks took a 5-2 home defeat.
Chicago has allowed 14 goals during its current three-game skid. The Blackhawks’ 28 regulation losses are the most in the league.
“It’s been hard,” said Bedard, who has five goals and eight assists in the past 11 games. “It’s been a lot of games to lose. It weighs on you.”
Bedard, who owns team-leading totals of assists (27) and points (39), is not ready to start placing blame on his teammates.
“We’re all in this as one, and we’ve got a lot of work to do, obviously,” Bedard added.
Bedard gave the Blackhawks a 2-0 lead with his second-period goal against visiting Nashville on Oct. 25. However, the Predators followed with three unanswered goals for a 3-2 victory.
That triumph came in the middle of Nashville’s season-high three-game winning streak. The Predators, five points ahead of Chicago, are 7-6-1 since a devastating 0-5-3 slide, but only twice have they strung together back-to-back wins during the current positive stretch.
They will have a chance to do it again on Thursday, two nights after earning a 5-3 victory over the visiting Vegas Golden Knights. Steven Stamkos scored twice and added an assist for Nashville, which matched its season high for goals while also recording the franchise’s 1,000th all-time victory.
“There’s definitely a belief that when we do the things we’re capable of doing and we stay connected, we can play with anybody,” Predators coach Andrew Brunette said.
Even with the offensive breakout on Tuesday, Nashville ranks next to last in the league with an average of 2.47 goals, better than only the Anaheim Ducks (2.41). Right ahead of the Predators are the Blackhawks (2.55).
Stamkos, sitting on 99 career multi-goal games, is now tied with Jonathan Marchessault for the team lead with 14 goals apiece.
Nashville backup goalie Justus Annunen (2.88 goals-against average) stopped 19 of 22 shots vs. Vegas. Juuse Saros could be back in Nashville’s net to face the Blackhawks even though he has allowed 15 goals while losing four of his last five games.
Meanwhile, Chicago’s Petr Mrazek (3.25 GAA) has yielded at least four goals in seven of his past eight starts. Backup Arvid Soderblom has allowed a total of 10 while losing each of his past two starts.
Chicago’s netminders continue to be plagued by poor defense in front of them. The club concedes 3.45 goals per contest, which ranks 30th in the NHL. Embattled veteran defenseman Seth Jones was a minus-4 against Calgary.
Nashville star Filip Forsberg has scored a goal in three straight games, and he has seven points in the past five contest. He scored against the Blackhawks in October.
–Field Level Media
