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Chicago Blackhawks Can’t Hold Lead, Lose to Vancouver Canucks

By Samuel Boland |
VANCOUVER, BC - OCTOBER 31: Vancouver Canucks center Bo Horvat (53) faces off against Chicago Blackhawks Center Jonathan Toews (19) during their NHL game at Rogers Arena on October 31, 2018 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Vancouver won 4-2. (Photo by Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC - OCTOBER 31: Vancouver Canucks center Bo Horvat (53) faces off against Chicago Blackhawks Center Jonathan Toews (19) during their NHL game at Rogers Arena on October 31, 2018 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Vancouver won 4-2. (Photo by Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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The Chicago Blackhawks lost 4-2 to the Vancouver Canucks last night. It was a painful loss but with that pain comes a tremendous amount of lessons to be learned. Here’s our takeaways from the game.

No. 1: The Vancouver Canucks capitalized on their chances and it ultimately won them the game.

Through thirty minutes last night, the Chicago Blackhawks were in the driver’s seat, foot on the gas and well on their way to a win to start off their three-game road trip through Canada.

Unfortunately, unforced turnovers in the second half of the game gave the Vancouver Canucks multiple chances to steal the game away and they did just that.

One was an unfortunate, and uncharacteristic blind pass from Jonathan Toews to a stick-less John Hayden in their own zone. Toews was trying to clear the puck out of the zone, but Hayden had just given away his stick to defenseman Henri Jokiharju.


Obviously, this play is somewhat of fluke, but the issue isn’t that it happened. Rather, it’s the fact that Vancouver was able to capitalize on this chance. The Chicago Blackhawks couldn’t when the Canucks did and it ultimately cost them the game. They lead twice in the contest, first 1-0 and then 2-1, but could never hold onto a lead.

That said, it’s tough to hold onto a lead when you can’t hold onto the puck. Here’s what Brandon Saad had to say on the matter.

“We just got sloppy with the puck. We started off pretty well, got out to a lead, but the second and third period were way too sloppy.”

Additionally, coach Joel Quenneville summed it up about as good as a anyone, saying:

“It was self-inflicted on the goals-against,” said Q.  “Preventable, all of them, and they turned turnovers into the back of the net.”
VANCOUVER, BC – OCTOBER 31: Chicago Blackhawks Left Wing Brandon Saad (20) celebrates after scoring a goal during their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on October 31, 2018 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Vancouver won 4-2. (Photo by Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC – OCTOBER 31: Chicago Blackhawks Left Wing Brandon Saad (20) celebrates after scoring a goal during their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on October 31, 2018 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Vancouver won 4-2. (Photo by Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

No. 2: Brandon Saad looked like the real Brandon Saad.

Last night was easily the best Saad has been all season. Every single time he hit the ice, he made a noticeable impact.

Saad scored to put Chicago up 1-0 just under seven minutes into the game by taking a nice pass from Chris Kunitz and beating two Canucks defenders and eventually Jacob Markström through the five-hole.

Saad had multiple chances to score throughout the game but experienced those familiar bad bounces that seem to be part of who Brandon Saad is at this point. He hit the post more than once, including this one in which his shot off the post was waived off because of a kick.

No. 3: Although the Chicago Blackhawks needed someone to step up, Patrick Kane is still indispensable.

Like we covered, Brandon Saad stepped up big-time in Patrick Kane’s absence (illness) last night. Additionally, it was the best effort I’ve seen from Kunitz as well. Toews got on the scoresheet, Luke Johnson recorded his first NHL point and Alexandre Fortin showcased a strong effort on both sides of the ice.

Regardless, no one could fill the void left by Kane.

“You can’t replace him, but at the same time, you have to be sharper with [your] details because you are missing one of the best players in the world,”said Saad on Kane. “Definitely it hurts, but that’s still no excuse to play that poorly with the puck.”

While it was good to see other Chicago Blackhawks putting in work, they sorely missed Kane’s presence in the third period. Down a goal late in the third, the ‘Hawks desperately needed someone to step up and make a play.

Next. Chicago Blackhawks Cam Ward Serves as Unlikely Hero. dark

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Instead, a bad Nick Schmaltz turnover led to a goal going the other way. As a result of poor puck control and bad turnovers the Blackhawks saw a very winnable game slip away from them.

Hopefully, that fate can be avoided tonight when they face off against the Edmonton Oilers.

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