Blackhawks’ Winning Streak Ends as Rally Falls Short Against Flames

The Blackhawks’ three-game winning streak ended Saturday, but their increased offensive potency under interim coach Anders Sorensen did not disappear.

The Hawks Mounted an Admirable Third-Period Rally

The Hawks mounted an admirable third-period rally in a 6-4 loss to the Flames, cutting a four-goal deficit to one in time for a last-gasp shift in the offensive zone before an empty-net marker sealed their fate.

Connor Bedard, who finished with three points, set up two Tyler Bertuzzi tap-ins and then red-hot Ilya Mikheyev banged in a rebound with 1:08 left. It’s the second time in two weeks under Sorensen that the Hawks have cut a 5-1 deficit to 5-4, having also done so Dec. 12 against the Islanders.

The Hawks’ Impressive Team Stat Remained Alive

The Hawks’ most impressive team stat from this generally vexing season remained alive, too. They’ve now been leading, tied or within one goal at some point in the third period in 33 of 34 games.

A Sloppy Start

They were sloppy, however, while digging such a deep hole. The flip side of Sorensen’s offense-oriented system changes is that neutral-zone turnovers are now more likely to create odd-man rushes against, and that was the case Saturday.

“We made too many mistakes that shouldn’t be made, and those are going to end up in your net,” Bedard told reporters in Calgary.

Goalie Petr Mrazek’s Mixed Bag

Goalie Petr Mrazek produced a mixed bag of results in his return after missing a couple weeks due to a full bag of problems (a minor groin injury, the flu and a family health issue). He made a miraculous stick save early but conceded several softer goals later.

Jones Returns, Too

Veteran defenseman Seth Jones, like Mrazek, was also rusty in his return to the lineup after missing 16 games. He logged a team-high 26:42 of ice time but committed a turnover that led to a Flames shorthanded goal. Sorensen put Alex Vlasic, who improved his power-play quarterbacking skills during Jones’ absence, back atop the first unit after that.

Fact Check

Some Hawks fans on social media Saturday insisted the Hawks would be better off without Jones, but that’s empirically incorrect. Since the start of 2022-23, the Hawks have a .354 points percentage with Jones in the lineup (going 50-96-11) compared to a .333 points percentage without him (going 11-24-4).

They’ve also scored 43.3% of the goals during five-on-five play with Jones on the ice (outscored 136-104) compared to 37.3% of the goals without Jones (outscored 347-206).

Conclusion

The Blackhawks’ winning streak may have come to an end, but their ability to mount a late rally and push the game to the wire is a testament to their character and determination. While they may have made too many mistakes, they will look to learn from their mistakes and regroup for their next game.

FAQs

* What was the final score in the game between the Blackhawks and the Flames?
+ The final score was 6-4 in favor of the Flames.
* How many points did Connor Bedard finish with?
+ Connor Bedard finished with three points.
* How many games has the Blackhawks’ winning streak been snapped?
+ The Blackhawks’ three-game winning streak was snapped.