The Chicago Blackhawks came into Sunday night’s game against the Vancouver Canucks mired in a four-game losing streak, getting outscored 18–4 in that span, and setting themselves up for a good draft pick in the process. They had just beaten two playoff-caliber teams in the Nashville Predators and Boston Bruins prior to this streak, making it seem like the wheels have finally come completely off on their season with how poorly they are playing.
— The Blackhawks had the best chances the first period, with Jarred Tinordi ringing a shot off of the post from the left circle, beating former Blackhawk netminder Collin Delia but not getting it into the net. The Blackhawks would get the games’ first power play, but would not be able to do anything on the man advantage. It took until the 3:59 mark of the frame with the Blackhawks on the penalty kill for something to happen. Jason Dickinson took the puck in around the net and got it out to the point for Connor Murphy, who wristed a shot past Delia, making the score 1–0 Blackhawks.
— Both teams traded shots throughout the second, with nothing getting past either goaltender, until the final minute of play. The Canucks kept the puck in the Blackhawks’ end for one last chance at the end of the period, and Seth Jones got the puck banked in off of him by Phillip Di Giuseppe to knot things up at 1–1.
— In the third, Dakota Joshua rocked Lukas Reichel off of the puck, which led to a Canucks 2-on-1 break, which ended in an Elias Pettersson goal to put the Canucks up 2–1. He would score again a minute later, with the Canucks converting very quickly on the power play they had received to put them up 3–1. The Blackhawks decided to try to tie things up, pulling Petr Mrazek for the sixth attacker. They were able to get one back, with Reichel cleaning up a loose puck and putting it past Delia, 3–2 Canucks. Brock Boeser would put the finally tally on the board to make it 4–2 Canucks and put this one away.
The Blackhawks are losing, but are looking competitive doing it, showing that they are still trying, despite also wanting to get the best draft pick that they can with the season they have been having. They remain a point up on last place in the NHL, with the Columbus Blue Jackets and San Jose Sharks not in action on Sunday.
The Blackhawks’ next game will be on Tuesday night at home against the Dallas Stars. That game will be at 7:30 p.m. CDT on NBC Sports Chicago.