Blackhawks struggle with momentum in loss to Patrick Kane, Red Wings: Observations

CHICAGO Nick Foligno said the word momentum eight times in a four-minute scrum following the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday night.

They gave away momentum by allowing a goal with 1.5 seconds left in the first period.

They ceded momentum by giving up a goal less than four minutes after Foligno had tied it in the second period.

They squandered momentum with poor execution on power plays.

Advertisement But thats in-game momentum.

That comes and goes.

What these Blackhawks desperately need is real momentum.

Momentum that lasts days weeks, even.

Thats when trends become habits, when confidence cements into certitude.

Thats when real ground is made up in the standings.

And the fact is, the Blackhawks havent had any momentum whatsoever in the entire time Foligno has been in Chicago.

Their last three-game win streak was in February of 2023.

So instead of knocking off a middling-at-best Red Wings squad at home and heading to Dallas flying high off three straight wins, its right back to those familiar feelings of frustration, disappointment and exasperation for Foligno and the Blackhawks.

Yeah, man, we should be four or five games in a row right now, Foligno said.

Its how you have to play in order to keep yourself in the mix.

Youve got to find a way to win two or three and four and get on a little string of wins here.

Its frustrating for us because we know where were sitting and where were trying to get to.

The Blackhawks gave up too many odd-man rushes to a team that feasts on them cheats, in Folignos words and had two putrid power plays, mustering just one total shot on goal.

After a weekend sweep of the Kings and Ducks in Southern California, its right back to square one for a team thats now 5-8-1.

The work ethic wasnt there, the energy wasnt there, the finer details werent there.

And as Connor Murphy noted, the Blackhawks simply dont have the firepower to win while playing like that.

We had a two-game winning streak going, coach Luke Richardson said.

Its not that long a streak, so reality has to set in.

Realize we worked hard (for those two wins), but its not like we won 10 in a row and things are just clicking for us.

Its disappointing because we know and we have to be better, Foligno said.

Thats just a simple fact.

The Blackhawks are 4-4-1 on the road, but just 1-4-0 at home.

Its a small sample size, but its an alarming one all the same.

Foligno said the Blackhawks need to bring the simplicity of a road game to the United Center.

Advertisement Weve got to figure it out at home, especially when were not on TV, Foligno said.

Weve got to find a way to get our fans excited about us playing here.

Its disappointing tonight.

That was the first time this season any player had alluded to the CHSN fiasco, which has left a huge portion of the fan base unable to watch the teams games (or unwilling to buy an antenna, at the very least).

A direct-to-consumer app is coming, but theres no set date for its release and the price point remains uncertain.

The good news? Wednesdays game was on TNT.

The bad news? It wasnt exactly the best advertisement for Blackhawks hockey.

Few home games this season have been.

Know what would help? Momentum.

We get in front of our crowd and, for whatever reason, we feel we have to put on a show, Foligno said.

Its just simplifying.

And winnings fun.

And then its funny, you talk about winning, its maybe ugly at first, or its not the prettiest, but then it gets pretty.

It gets pretty because you start doing it collectively, guys buy in, guys feel good about their games.

And all of a sudden now the really pretty plays start to happen.

And you get momentum, you get confidence from that.

Patrick Kane s second trip to the United Center was a lot less dramatic than his first.

There was no video tribute, no minutes-long ovation, no storybook overtime winner.

No Chris Chelios jersey retirement, for that matter.

Kane was the fourth-to-last Red Wings player off the ice in warmups, and the only real recognition he got was a modest pop when he was announced as a starter.

He had a few almost-vintage moments on the ice, including a nifty backhander he nearly slipped past Petr Mrazek , and he still looked menacing as ever on the half-wall during the power play.

He finished with six shot attempts and was a plus-2 in 19:04.

It was all very ...

normal.

Advertisement But for Kane, it was still super weird.

Last year, we didnt have a morning skate, so just coming in here and being on the ice in the morning, (wearing a) different jersey and looking around at all the banners and the building in general, how many great memories were here and how many times you were out there for morning skate donning that Blackhawks logo, Kane said.

It was a great run.

Ill never forget my years here in the city of Chicago, and the fans and the people and everyone that was a part of it.

Ill always cherish the chance to come back here.

Another familiar face, Alex DeBrincat , had a goal and an assist while playing on the top line with Kane and Dylan Larkin .

During his exit interview last spring, Richardson and Kyle Davidson made it abundantly clear to Arvid Soderblom that his position as the Blackhawks backup goaltender was not in the least bit safe.

How could it be? Soderblom won just five of his 29 starts, posted an .879 save percentage, and his minus-12.99 goals saved above expected was the second-worst among 96 NHL goalies.

The comment could have come across as a threat.

But Soderblom took it as it was intended motivation.

Thats how its supposed to be, Soderblom said.

That brings the best out of everybody, the competition we have in all spots.

Thats healthy for our team.

Thats one thing I remember they said, and it was fuel for me going into the summer.

Soderblom wasnt shocked when the Blackhawks signed veteran backup Laurent Brossoit to a two-year deal over the summer, but it was still dismaying.

Motivated as he was, Soderbloms confidence was shot by the end of last season, and it didnt seem like hed get another chance to prove he could be an NHL goalie anytime soon.

Of course I was (down on myself), he said.

You have to look yourself in the mirror and see what you can improve.

I did that.

I took one step back and just looked at what my strengths are and built from there.

I feel like thats been going good so far.

Advertisement Soderblom said he focused largely on his vision over the summer, and as a result his puck-tracking has been much better.

Its been noticeable.

With Brossoit working his way back after offseason knee surgery, Soderblom has gotten three starts.

He made 33 saves in a 2-1 overtime loss at Winnipeg (the leagues best team at 12-1-0) and rebounded from a tough start against Buffalo with a 38-save 4-2 win in Anaheim.

Brossoits recovery has been slow, and hes already past his expected return date.

Richardson said Soderbloms strong play has allowed the Blackhawks to take their time with Brossoit.

Soderblom likely will get another start in Dallas on Thursday.

So instead of starting the season in Rockford with the miserable memory of last season in his mind, hell eventually head back to Rockford knowing hes still the No.

3 goalie in the system and still worthy of playing in the NHL.

Richardson said thats huge for Soderbloms confidence, and the goalie didnt argue.

Whatever happens in the past, I dont think you should be too hard on yourself, he said.

You have to take it for what it is, and use it to learn instead of beating yourself down.

Im pretty good at that, not getting too high or too low, whatever happens.

Thats just how I am as a person, not too emotional, I guess.

Thats part of my personality.

But Im definitely more confident, more calm.

Its been good so far.

Isaak Phillips is in something of a strange spot.

At 23 years old and with 56 NHL games under his belt, he has essentially graduated from Rockford.

Coming for his job are three first-round picks in Sam Rinzel, Kevin Korchinski and Artyom Levshunov.

And hes jockeying with veterans such as T.J.

Brodie and (eventually, when he returns) Alec Martinez for playing time in the NHL.

Is he just a passable fill-in, a stopgap that can be scratched or demoted without much thought or concern? Or is he still a potential long-term piece for the Blackhawks? Thats someone elses problem, Phillips said.

Dont get him wrong, hes still keeping tabs on everyone behind him.

But theres not much he can do about them.

Advertisement You are looking at it, you know theres a million prospects, Phillips said with a laugh.

I want to be here, everyone wants to be here long term.

But hockeys a business.

Maybe its not going to work out that way.

I would love for it to work out that way, I dont want to leave.

But people change teams, things happen.

You can only control what you can control.

When you go home you can look it up and go, oh, this guy had two points it doesnt really matter.

Once you get here, everyone has to prove that they can play at this level.

And everything works out the way it should.

In Anaheim on Sunday, Phillips scored his first goal of the season on a nice shot from long range, but the Blackhawks also were outchanced 10-0 with him on the ice.

He had a stronger game against Detroit, but got burned by Larkin at the end of a draining 76-second shift for a second-period goal.

In theory, every shift carries a lot more weight for a guy like Phillips than, say, Seth Jones or Alex Vlasic .

But like Soderblom, Phillips knows he cant treat every little play as if it can make or break his career, or hell drive himself batty.

The more timid you play, the more mistakes youll make, he said.

You cant be afraid to make a mistake.

If youre thinking about all that, thats when youre going to have a problem.

Your first instinct is probably the right play, so just play free, play instinctive.

(Top photo of Philipp Kurashev : David Banks / Imagn Images).

This article has been shared from the original article on theathleticuk, here is the link to the original article.