A rough K-Night for the Blackhawks in blowout loss to Penguins

We’ve all had those days. You wake up late, then realize you forgot to put grounds in the coffee machine, so you brew a pot of hot water. Then you catch a freight train on the way to work, get ketchup on your shirt during lunch, and forget your cell phone on your desk. It’s just not your day, so you go to bed early and start fresh the next day.

That’s the experience the Chicago Blackhawks had tonight in their 7-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Nothing went their way. They hit multiple posts, while Spencer Knight had his worst game since arriving in Chicago. The Blackhawks got their goals from Nick Foligno, Wyatt Kaiser, and Tyler Bertuzzi. They led in almost every offensive category except the one that matters in the end.

"It was a night their chances went in in the first, and our chances didn’t,” head coach Jeff Blashill said. “Then you’re just digging yourself out of a hole that’s difficult to dig out of. Theirs went in, and ours didn’t. That’s hockey."

Spencer Knight Has Rare Bad Night

We all know how important Knight has been to the Blackhawks' early-season success. He’s been a huge factor in most of their wins this season. Entering tonight’s game, his 7.60 goals saved above average was eighth in the NHL, and his 136 high-danger saves were second behind Ilya Sorokin of the New York Islanders, who has 140.

For whatever reason, Knight didn’t have it tonight, and without Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar in the lineup, that gives the Blackhawks no chance to win. He was pulled midway through the opening after giving up four goals on seven shots. You could argue that all four of them should have been stopped, with two going through the five-hole and the last one leaking in between his arm and body.

Knight hadn't seen any shows since Tuesday night’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers because of the holiday break. But that’s not an excuse because neither had Arturs Silovs, who didn’t give up multiple soft goals in the opening period. Knight returned for the third period and stopped both shots he faced. He has now lost five starts in a row.

Nick Foligno Draws Back In

Foligno returned to the lineup for the first time since blocking a shot with his left hand on Nov. 15 versus the Toronto Maple Leafs. While getting the captain back into the lineup doesn’t provide the excitement that Connor Bedard's or Frank Nazar’s return would, he still brings a lot to this team that they have missed.

“He’s a guy who knows when to say something, when to stand up and talk, and knows when to take charge outside of the coaching. But also, I would say in those situations, on the ice, because he’s a guy who can go and tilt the ice. he can go and make sure the momentum doesn’t keep going the other way, whether that’s through good defending, whether that’s through playing in the O-zone, those guys are important. Guys who can go out and change momentum or eat minutes, defend well, play in the O-zone, and have a physical hit are really important. That’s a piece we certainly missed with having him out of the lineup.”

Foligno’s line started the game, and he got a shot on goal in the opening seconds. He scored the Blackhawks’ first goal, his first goal of the season. He showed off some nice hands in front of the net.

He finished his night with three shots on goal and two hits. His line with Colton Dach and Sam Lafferty did not give up a goal, while producing three high-danger scoring chances.

“It stinks being a game like that tonight, to be honest,” he said of his return. “You get amped up to get back, and then it goes south real quick. I’ve been in enough of these."

Nuggets & Tidbits

• Even though the Blackhawks were down 4-0 at the first intermission, the opening frame wasn’t the disaster that the scoreboard said it was. The Blackhawks led in shot attempts (22-14), scoring chances (13-7), and high-danger scoring chances (6-2). Ryan Greene and Louis Crevier hit the post, while Landon Slaggert duffed his shot on a 2-on-1 rush with Tyler Bertuzzi. Meanwhile, the Penguins could slide the puck into the crease and have it go in.

• The Blackhawks went 0-for-3 on the power play tonight, and are now 1-for-18 since Bedard’s injury. We knew they’d struggle with their two best offensive playmakers out, but it’s been worse than expected. The need to make the extra pass is infuriating. Late in the first period, the second unit had the puck in the zone for nearly 30 seconds and didn’t even look to shoot. Looking for the perfect play when you’re down 4-0 is embarrassing. Get the puck towards the net.

• The Blackhawks have been outscored 27-7 in the second half of back-to-back games. Don’t worry, there are only eight more back-to-backs left on the schedule.

• Right after Foligno’s goal, the Blackhawks took a too many men on the ice penalty while they had extended offensive zone time. Eight seconds into the ensuing power play, the Penguins scored. The Blackhawks now lead the NHL with nine too many men penalties. These are avoidable mistakes this team cannot afford to make.