The Chicago Blackhawks followed up a 1–2 West Coast road trip with a solid 3–1 home win over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night. On Thursday night, the Hawks hit the road again with the first of three away from the United Center, which began at Canadian Tire Centre against the Ottawa Senators. Petr Mrazek started in goal for the Hawks against one-time Blackhawk netminder Anton Forsberg.
First period
The Blackhawks received an early power play, however it was the Senators who took advantage, as Claude Giroux scored a shorthanded goal just 36 seconds into the game. Ottawa skated 3-on-2 into the Hawks zone when Giroux snapped a wrist shot from the slot and past Mrazek for his 20th of the season.
Ottawa increased its lead to 2–0 when Parker Kelly posted his eighth goal of the season. Kelly intercepted Connor Bedard’s clearing attemp off the boards and flipped it on goal from the half boards for the unassisted goal at the 6:08 mark. The score would stay that way after 20 minutes, as the Hawks looked flat out of the gate and were outshot 16–7.
Second period
A scoreless second period saw the Hawks continue to get dominated. The Blackhawks were outshot 11–6 for the period and 27–13 through two periods.
Third period
In the final period, the Hawks showed a little bit of fight but could not get one past Forsberg, as the Senators defeated the Blackhawks 2–0. Forsberg finished with 18 saves against his former team.
Analysis
The Blackhawks started slow and really never recovered, especially after the deflating shorthanded goal against in the opening minute. After receiving some praise from head coach Luke Richardson for his improvements defensively, Bedard had a sloppy game in his own end, including a turnover that led to Ottawa’s second goal.
The Blackhawks play the second of three on the road on Saturday night against the Philadelphia Flyers. Puck drop is at 6 p.m. CDT on NBCSCH with the radio call on WGN 720 AM.
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