The Blackhawks lost 4-3 in overtime to the Central Division-leading Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday at the United Center in Chicago. In doing so, the Blackhawks’ playoff hopes remained alive, although one more point from the Avalanche will bury them.
3 up
Dylan Strome
Strome scored two goals to snap his 12-game goal drought and generated two high-danger chances in the game. Both goals were instrumental in getting the Blackhawks to overtime and keeping their playoff hopes alive.
Both goals were created the same way — getting to the slot then firing a shot off.
That’s not to say his play was perfect — he got beat on the Jets’ game-winning goal — but he was better than he’s been in some time and it paid off.
Erik Gustafsson
Gustafsson now has a point streak after recording an assist on all three Blackhawks’ goals against Winnipeg. Gustafsson also paced the Blackhawks with 22:19 at even strength and had the best Corsi-For and shot share on the Chicago blue line.
Gustafsson also had a takeaway, two blocked shots and a team-high six hits. He did, however, commit two of Chicago’s four penalties but the Blackhawks killed them off.
Jonathan Toews
Toews scored his first power-play goal since March 18 and added his third and fourth points in the last three games. He was also third in time on ice, fourth in Corsi and fifth in shot share for the Blackhawks. He had a takeaway and won 57 percent of his faceoffs.
3 down
Brent Seabrook and Gustav Forsling
The Blackhawks’ second pairing got stuck in their own end for much of the game and allowed two even-strength goals against during regulation. Forsling’s failed clear and subsequent turnover led to Jake Roslovic’s first goal with less than a minute remaining in the first period, and Seabrook had two giveaways of his own.
Playoff chances
The Blackhawks are still “technically in it,” as head coach Jeremy Colliton phrased it. The overtime loss, combined with Colorado’s own, didn’t change that. What did change, however, is that if Colorado gets just one more point, and the Blackhawks do anything but win out, it’s over. They are on the brink of elimination. The tree root they’ve grasped is down to its last fiber.
It’s all but over, which is a definite downtrend. Still, who doesn’t want to believe the Blackhawks’ hopes can change?
John Hayden
Hayden played a team-low 6:31 in his first game back in the lineup since March 7. His biggest impact in the game was three hits, which didn’t even lead the team.
This was a tryout to see if Hayden fit again, and it turns out he didn’t.
What’s next?
The Blackhawks host the Blues on Wednesday night at the United Center.