3 Takeaways From The Chicago Blackhawks Road Loss To The Washington Capitals

The Chicago Blackhawks may have recently snapped their franchise-record 22-game road losing streak but do not expect them to start a road-winning streak anytime soon.

The Hawks lost 4-1 to the Washington Capitals on Saturday night at the Capital One Arena. A win was not in the Blackhawks' wallet (a play on words was intended).

Here are three takeaways from this road defeat...

The Hawks lost this game in the first period.

This game was over with 6:24 left into the opening period when Tom Wilson found the back of the net on a pass set up by former Blackhawk Dylan Strome.

It was the Capitals third goal of the first period. The Caps technically got a fourth goal, but it was wiped out by a coach's challenge. By the way, head coach Luke Richardson is really good at challenges.

What was not good was the Hawks' discipline in the first period as the team committed three penalties. Wilson's goal came on the power play.

Maybe it was a poor first period because the Blackhawks looked like they would rather be any place else but Washington D.C.

Goalie Petr Mrazek was not very good in goal, something that has rarely happened this season.

Mrazek is not going to go out there and have a shutout every night. It is kind of hard when you have Jarred Tinordi as one of your defensemen.

At the same time, his special ability has been making big saves to keep the game from getting out of hand. He just did not have it in this one.

He blocked 22 of 26 shot attempts.

Washington's first goal was not completely Mrazek's fault for allowing the puck to go into the back of the net.

The Caps' second goal came when Mrazek could not corral the puck that allowed for a rebound opportunity.

That bail-out save did not happen on Washington's fourth goal in the third period. Zach Sanford made an ill-advised pass attempt from the seat of his pants that led to a turnover. It created an odd-man advantage for the Capitals. Normally, Mrazek has found a way to stone the opponent to keep the Hawks within striking distance. Not this time.

The way that he has kept the Hawks in games this year has been magnificent. He should be given some grace for being less than what we have seen all year in this game.

The offense did nothing for most of the game despite better stats.

The Hawks outshot Washington 32-26. They led the Capitals in every possible metric and came away with one goal.

Thankfully, Tyler Johnson was not traded before Friday's NHL trade deadline as he produced the Hawks' only goal in the third period.

The Hawks scored four goals on the power play in Tuesday's road win against the Arizona Coyotes. They had four power plays in this game and came up empty.

Connor Bedard was doing everything he could to generate some goals but came up short. He had some nifty puck moves in the third period and got nothing.

He was firing off shots as if he was at the range.

It did not matter as goalie Charlie Lindgren stopped 31 of 32 shots to earn the first star of the game.