The Chicago Blackhawks are off to a worse start than last season for two reasons

The Chicago Blackhawks appeared to be cruising to a home victory against the Nashville Predators when an overturned goal changed everything.

Instead of going up 3-0 in the second period, the Hawks went into the locker room tied 2-2. Nashville ended up with the game-winning goal to leave the United Center with two points in the standings.

Not being able to put together a full 60 minutes of good hockey is a big reason the Hawks are off to a worse start than last season.

The Blackhawks have struggled to string together a full game where they are executing well. The first game at Utah was a preview when the Hawks got off to a sluggish start. Despite playing better in the second and third period, they could not overcome that poor start.

The same thing happened in the Hawks' previous game against Vancouver. Two missed calls also did in the Blackhawks, but the slow start put the Hawks in a hole they could not climb out of.

The Hawks actually got off to an impressive start against Nashville. They took the early 1-0 lead in the first, and then Connor Bedard added to it in the second period with his long-awaited second goal of the season.

Then the Hawks reverted to not being able to string together a consistent game.

The other reason the Hawks' record is worse to start the season than the previous campaign is the offense still cannot score enough goals.

The team is 19th in goals allowed, and while the goals-per-game has improved, it is still not enough to overcome a defense that is going to be nothing more than solid.

Petr Mrazek is not going to stand on his head every game. He is a solid netminder who will do just enough to keep the team in a game.

That is why averaging more than 2.5 goals a game is needed if the Blackhawks are going to be better than last season.

The maddening part is the Blackhawks are doing a better job this season at creating scoring chances.

The goal production should get better as Bedard finds the back of the net more. The rest of the top six also must get going too.

Granted, through the first eight games last season, the Blackhawks did go 3-5, whereas this team is 2-5-1. The Blackhawks were shut out in two of their first eight games during the 2023-24 season. Through this season's eight games, the Blackhawks have been in every contest at some point in the game.

They are a much more competitive group this season compared to last. They just have to clean up these two areas to get more victories to show for it.