3 Takeaways From the Chicago Blackhawks Road Loss to the Carolina Hurricanes

The Chicago Blackhawks road losing streak continued after the Carolina Hurricanes thoroughly won 6-3.

The Hawks have lost 21 straight games away from the United Center with only one contest going to overtime. That is one stinking point that the Blackhawks have picked up in the standings since they last won on the road on November 9th, 2023 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

This game was not much of a contest during the first two periods which is the first of the three takeaways from this latest road defeat...

The Blackhawks played like they still wanted to be at the team hotel through the first two periods. The Hurricanes outscored the Hawks 4-1 through the first 40 minutes of the game.

Carolina generated 13 high-danger scoring chances to the Hawks' four. The Hurricanes' expected-goals-for during the second period was 2.25.

Making it even worse was the Blackhawks allowed the Hurricanes to own the slot. That put goalie Petr Mrazek under duress.

Being outshot and outscored was not unexpected since the Hurricanes are legit Stanley Cup contenders but letting them do what they want while looking foolish is unacceptable.

Looking foolish is what happened on Carolina's first goal. Hawks' defensemen Louis Crevier and Jarred Tinordi got completely turned around which allowed Martin Necas to slip an easy pass to Michael Bunting for a backhand goal.

The Hawks had a two-man advantage early in the first period and came away with nothing. It was a terrible 40 minutes of hockey.

Connor Bedard and Hurricanes' netminder Spencer Martin developed a feud.

Spencer Martin did not take too kindly to the phenom for one of the dumbest reasons possible.

Martin should have been upset with his teammate but instead went after Bedard. That must have woken something up in Connor as he responded with a goal and an assist in the third period. He should have had another goal had it not been waved off.

Bedard made sure Martin knew that he was not pleased with that second-period shove.

You have to love how his career is progressing each night. Every night we see something new from this young man. He sparked the Blackhawks to mount a comeback to get the Hawks within two goals in the third period. Although it was too little, too late.

The Bedard line has been amazing.

The one positive during the first two periods was the top line produced a goal again. Nick Foligno extended his points streak with a wonderful backhand shot that found the back of the net late in the second period.

Bedard, Foligno, and Phillip Kurashev have been excellent together since Connor came back from his jaw injury last Thursday.

Kurashev has been impressive in that, he is starting to believe he has the talent to match Bedard. That is a good thing as the Hawks need players capable of being just as good as Connor to play alongside the phenom.

Kurashev picked up an assist on a slick pass to Bedard for the Hawks' second goal of the game.

These three, along with Jason Dickinson and Mrazek, are a big reason it is still worth watching the Hawks.