The Anaheim Ducks erased a 2-0 deficit and Adam Henrique knocked in the game-winner at 8 minutes, 34 seconds of the third period to send the Chicago Blackhawks to their eighth straight loss, 3-2, on Thursday at United Center.
It’s Chicago’s longest skid under coach Joel Quenneville since a nine-game streak during the 2011-12 season. That skid also happened in early February, and the Hawks won four straight after it. The Hawks also built a large enough lead that season to make the Stanley Cup playoffs, but this year the postseason seems well out of reach.
Chicago looked like it was going to finally find the win column.
Duncan Keith scored his first goal since March 16, 2017, on the power play at 1:45 of the second period with Tommy Wingles, who played on the first line, screening Ducks goaltender John Gibson. It’s the sixth time in the last seven games the Hawks have scored on the man advantage.
Less than eight minutes later, Brandon Saad tapped in a feed from Vinnie Hinostroza for his first goal in 17 games.
Two scoring droughts gone. The Hawks were poised to win with a 2-0 lead. But then the Ducks decided to fly together thanks to two turnovers.
A turnover by Connor Muprhy led to Nick Ritchie’s goal only 41 seconds after Saad’s. Less than three minutes later, Ondrej Kase tied the game on a breakaway when Michal Kempny turned the puck over.
And just like that the United Center crowd fell silent.
Ryan Hartman brought some life back to the United Center crowd with a clean check to Anaheim’s Jakob Silfverberg. Despite being charged by three other Ducks, Hartman refused to engage but was issued a roughing minor. Anaheim’s Josh Manson was given a double-minor penalty for chasing after Hartman and connecting a punch. The penalties didn’t matter as Chicago came up empty on the man advantage.
The Hawks have now scored the first goal in 10 of their last 13 games, and fall to 2-6-2 during that stretch. Chicago has also scored two or fewer goals in 14 of their last 17 games.
Anton Forsberg stopped 29 of the 32 shots in net for Chicago with little defensive help in front of him. The Hawks definitely had plenty of chances to score with 44 shots on net, but Gibson stopped all but two, including several during the closing minutes of the game, to help the Ducks snap a two-game slide.
Chicago continues its five-game homestand Saturday when they host the Washington Capitals.
3 stars
1. Ondrej Kase (ANA) – 1 goal, 2 assists
2. Adam Henrique (ANA) – Game-winning goal
3. Duncan Keith (CHI) – 1 power-play goal