Blackhawks lose momentum in second period, get blown out by Kings

The Chicago Blackhawks had very little go right for them in a 6-0 blowout loss to the Los Angeles Kings. They played well in the first period, but had nothing to show for it. The wheels fell off early in the second period, and they couldn’t get out of their own way.

The Kings’ embattled offense showed up for three goals in the second period, and another three in the final frame. Maybe this will quiet the chatter about a coaching change for a bit. The Blackhawks won’t have long to stew over this bad loss, as they are right back at it against the Anaheim Ducks tomorrow night. If they find a way to win, they’ll come home with five points on the four-game road trip.

"This, compared to the Buffalo game, is two different animals, to be honest with you,” head coach Jeff Blashill said. “Because I thought we started and played really, really well, and then it just got away from us. Buffalo, from the drop of the puck, was the better team, and we never had anything going that night. If we score early, it could be a different game."

Hey Look, Another Bad Second Period

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but the Blackhawks played a lousy second period, and it cost them the game. They used their speed to have a very good first period, outshooting the Kings 11-7 while holding a 9-6 scoring chance advantage. Unfortunately, they were unable to score.

Towards the end of the opening frame, Los Angeles started to flip the ice, and they carried it over into the second period. The Kings got a goal 1:55 into the frame and another with less than a minute to play. In between, the league’s worst power-play unit snapped the Blackhawks’ streak of 13 straight penalties killed. Fun stuff.

The game really changed when the Blackhawks got back-to-back power plays down 1-0 and proceeded to stink out the joint. They couldn’t get the puck in the zone and gave up more shorthanded scoring chances than they created. The low spot came when Tyler Bertuzzi’s turnover led to a 2-on-0 rush that Spencer Knight stopped.

“It’s nicer that these are fewer and far between,” Jason Dickinson said of the bad second periods. “Obviously, we’d like to minimize them. But these happen. The best part about it is that they are a learning opportunity. As long as we take it for what it is, then there’s some value in it.”

How many times have we seen this? The Blackhawks have a really good first period, and then stop skating in the second. Over the final 40 minutes, they lost every stick battle, every puck race, and gave up inside position far too easily. Sure, things happen, and you’re not going to have your best every period of every game. But the Blackhawks' failings in the second period are beyond explanation. If they don’t figure it out, playing meaningful games in March and April might not happen.

Ryan Donato Steps Up on Third Line

Ryan Donato entered the season with high expectations after a career-high 31 goals and 62 points last season. He was rewarded with a new four-year, $16 million contract. He got off to a good start with six goals in his first 10 games, but he only had two in the last 17 games. He’s still on pace for 27 goals and 40 points.

With Teuvo Teravainen out, Donato was elevated to the third line with Dickinson and Ilya Mikheyev. He was noticeable in the opening period, including a 2-on-1 rush with Louis Crevier, where he was denied by Darcy Kuemper.

Donato finished the night with two shots on goal, four shot attempts, and created two individual scoring chances. The third line finished with a 53.85 Corsi for percentage (CF%). Only the second line had a slightly higher CF% at 54.55. The line gave up two goals and four scoring chances after the strong start.

Nuggets & Tidbits

• I was a little surprised that Knight got the start tonight. I figured Blashill would have gone with Arvid Soderblom and saved his No. 1 goaltender for the Ducks, who are a better offensive team. He made a couple of big stops while the game was still close, but it wasn’t his night. He didn’t get much help in front of him. Brandt Clarke was given way too much space on one of the goals, and Corey Perry was allowed to stand in front of Knight on another one. Knight and Connor Bedard can’t do it all by themselves, and neither got any help tonight.

• With Teravainen out, Sam Lafferty drew back into the lineup instead of Landon Slaggert. He had one shot attempt and two giveaways in his 8:47 of ice time. Putting him in shows where the Blackhawks are with Slaggert. I’d be shocked if he weren’t sent down to Rockford when the team returns home.

• Artyom Levshunov had some impressive moments during a bad night. In the first period, he skated through two defenders to make a pass in the neutral zone. He kept skating and got the puck back for a prime scoring chance. In the second period, he tied up Warren Foegele’s stick to prevent a shot on a 3-on-1 rush. The Blackhawks made Foegele look like prime Cam Neeley tonight. Levshunov had three hits and two blocked shots while being on the ice for two goals against.

• The Blackhawks stayed on the ice to shake hands with Kings’ captain Anze Kopitar, who is retiring after the season. Unless these two teams meet in the playoffs, this was the last game for the future Hall of Famer against the Blackhawks.