Another stirring Hawks comeback spoiled

For the second game in a row, the Blackhawks wasted a nice comeback.

Host Minnesota scored 2 goals in the final six minutes to steal a 4-3 win from the Hawks on Thursday night.

It was the second loss in a row for the Hawks coming off their six-game winning streak.

Jonas Brodin tied it at 14:21 of the third period on the power play before Marco Scandella scored with 1:48 left in regulation to win it.

“We had the game right where we wanted it, six minutes to go and a 1-goal lead,” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville told reporters. “Generally, that’s our bread and butter. We had to kill a penalty and we didn’t get it done.”

Brent Seabrook was serving a hooking penalty when Brodin tied it. The Hawks ranked second to last in the league in penalty killing entering the game.

“I thought we had an opportunity on a couple penalty kills,” Quenneville said. “That was the differential for me tonight. Last game we gave up one on the power play that we can’t give up. That’s probably the sorest issue right now with our team.”

Perhaps the Hawks are going to need to trade for a forward who can kill penalties since nothing else has worked.

All this after the Hawks rallied from a 2-0 deficit late in the second period to go ahead in the third on Marian Hossa’s power-play goal.

Jeremy Morin started the Hawks’ comeback by scoring with 17 seconds left before the second intermission.

Brandon Saad’s goal 43 seconds into the third period made it 2-2. Saad stripped the puck from Wild defenseman Ryan Suter and whipped a shot past goalie Josh Harding from inside the right circle.

Hossa put the Hawks ahead at 6:36 of the third period when he scored on a power play. A nice touch pass from Kris Versteeg sent Hossa in on Harding, who was beaten high from the left side.

Neither goaltender was particularly sharp, particularly Corey Crawford.

“He’s got to be better,” Quenneville said.

The Hawks got their 2 goals in the third period on just 4 shots.

After Matt Cooke gave the Wild an early 1-0 lead, Patrick Sharp was stoned by Harding on a breakaway when he could lift the puck over an outstretched left pad.

The Wild went ahead 2-0 in the second period on Zach Parise’s power-play goal.

The Hawks played without Andrew Shaw (upper body) and Michal Handzus (sick), both of whom stayed behind in Chicago.

Joakim Nordstrom and Morin were recalled from Rockford and formed two thirds of the third line with Sheldon Brookbank.

Versteeg centered the second line for Patrick Kane and Saad.

“I worked on everything,” Nordstrom, who started the season with the Hawks before being sent down, told reporters before the game. “I tried to improve my game as much as possible. I’m just trying to be consistent.”

Brandon Pirri, who went the last eight games without a point, was sent to Rockford as part of Wednesday’s roster changeover.

“Consistency and defensive play, I thought his play leveled out here the last stretch of games,” Quenneville said. “We all felt let’s get him some confidence and get his game going again.”

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