Week in Review for the Blackhawks

In this new article series, I will be writing about how the week has been on the ice for the Blackhawks.

This week, the Blackhawks played four games and I will be going through all four matchups, rating the week as a whole.

LA Kings 2-1 Chicago Blackhawks

LA scorers: Jaret Anderson-Dolan x2.

Chicago scorer: Ian Mitchell

Jaret Anderson-Dolan scored two goals in the first two periods to help the Kings end a three-game losing streak. LA goalkeeper Pheonix Copley made 18 saves to withstand a Chicago comeback in the final period which saw Ian Mitchell score his first goal of his season thus far.

Before this game, the Blackhawks had won their last three games. It was the Kings' Anderson-Dolan's first multi goal game in the NHL and Kings coach Todd McLellan told the media that "the coaching staff is obviously very happy for him."

Chicago Blackhawks 2-5 Vancouver Canucks

Chicago scorers: Patrick Kane, Sam Lafferty

Vancouver scorers: Andrei Kuzmenko x2, Dakota Joshua, Sheldon Dries, Bo Horvat

Vancouver Canucks new head coach Rick Tocchet's first game ended in victory when the Blackhawks came to Canada. Vancouver had lost three in a row before this game.

Patrick Kane opened the scoring for the American-based franchise near the end of the first period and Chicago went into the first break up 1-0. Andrei Kuzmenko leveled the game partway through the second period and he wouldn't stop there. Kuzmenko scored a tip-in shot for his second of the game. Sam Lafferty scored in between the two goals from the Russian former free agent.

The third period went the way the stats suggest and the multiple shots on target the Canucks were taking paid off as they scored three goals in the final 20 minutes to confirm the win for Vancouver.

Chicago Blackhawks 5-1 Calgary Flames

Chicago scorers: Taylor Raddysh, Boris Katchouk, Jason Dickinson, Sam Lafferty, Connor Murphy

Calgary scorer: Jonathan Huberdeau

Chicago picked up their only win this week when they visited Calgary. The Blackhawks beat the Flames for the second time this season and this win was a lot more convincing than the one at the start of the year at the UC.

Before the game, the Blackhawks announced that Jonathan Toews would be out due to a non-COVID-related illness so that saw Jason Dickinson move into the first line with Patrick Kane and Andreas Athanasiou.

Dickinson scored a goal in the visit to Calgary and gave praise to veteran Kane. He told NHL.com: ""He sees the ice extremely well, and he makes some unbelievable passes."

"So, you got to be ready at all times for that play that you think is over because in his mind, it's never over."

Jaxson Stauber was the star of the game as he made 35 saves in the game to stop the Flames from scoring in the second and third periods to confirm the win for Chicago.

Chicago Blackhawks 3-7 Edmonton Oilers

Chicago scorers: Jason Dickinson, Jonathon Toews, Taylor Raddysh

Edmonton scorers: Tyson Barrie x2, Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid, Zach Hyman, Evander Kane, Ryan McLeod

Chicago ended their short trip to Canada with a less than convincing performance as they lost 7-3 to the Edmonton Oilers.

Four goals in the second period changed the whole dynamic of the game and it was controlled by center Connor McDavid. The 2015 number-one pick in the draft picked up three points in this fixture and was one of the stars of the game. Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman picked up the same number of points to send the Blackhawks home unhappy going into the all-star week.

Review

Seeing the four games this week, resulting in three losses and one win, the stats show that Chicago allowed too many shots on goal. They didn't put enough pressure on the oppositions' goalie, thusly putting the onus squarely on a defense that isn't as strong as most clubs.

Chicago needs to evaluate everything in this week off and prepare for the backend of this season, but more importantly prepare for next season and the 2023 NHL draft.