Spellman: Pucks just won't find the net for Hawks

Trailing by a goal early in the third period Saturday, the Blackhawks shifted gears to "relentless" and swarmed the Toronto zone over the final 20 minutes, putting up a season-high 26 shots in a desperate attempt to tie things up.

"That might have been one of our best periods all year," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "We had the chances, good opportunities and pucks around the net. You play like that, you'll find ways to score goals."

Not on this night.

Not when Maple Leafs goalie James Reimer was stopping everything and anything that came his way, including all of those third-period shots and 45 of the 47 he faced overall to lead the Leafs to a 3-2 victory.

It was another frustrating night for the Hawks, who not only couldn't find their scoring touch despite surpassing the 40-shot mark a league-leading fifth time, but who also couldn't stop with the ill-timed turnovers for the second consecutive game.

"The three goals we gave up were all tough, tough plays," Quenneville said. "The second one in particular."

After power-play goals from Brad Richards - his first of the season - and Brent Seabrook had given the Hawks their first lead of the game, an errant pass by Johnny Oduya was scooped up by James van Riemsdyk, who not only beat Corey Crawford, but turned the tide of the game as well.

"We're coming along, we're doing a real nice job, getting the lead ... then they score on that play and now it's 2-2," Quenneville said. "That was a turning point in the game for us.

"We were definitely generous on our goals."

A couple minutes into the third period, Peter Holland beat Crawford for the game-winner. Crawford, in his first game back since suffering an upper-body injury in mid-October, stopped 24 of 27 shots.

In an ugly incident near the end of the second period, Hawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson was hit by a puck just below the eye and had to leave the ice as blood gushed from his face. But Hammer being Hammer, he was back on the ice when the third period began.

"He's a warrior," Quenneville said. "I'm sure he'll be fine."

Not so fine is the fact that the loss leaves the Hawks - losers of four of their last six and trying to figure out how in the world to cure their turnover blues - limping home for a Sunday night game against Winnipeg.

Until further notice, Quenneville is sticking with a tried and true method.

"Delegation of ice time is still one of the better mechanisms you can use as a staff," he said.

Follow Mike on Twitter @dhspellman.

Today's faceoff

Blackhawks vs. Winnipeg Jets at the United Center, 8 p.m. Sunday

TV: Comcast SportsNet

Radio: WGN 720-AM

The skinny: The Jets may be in last place in the Central Division, but they've been playing some quality hockey of late. They had a two-game win streak snapped Thursday in New Jersey and then took the Rangers to a shootout Saturday in New York before pulling out a 1-0 victory. The Hawks, coming off a loss at Toronto on Saturday have struggled at home early on, going 2-3-0 at the United Center. Antti Raanta may get the start in net for the Hawks.

Next: Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday

- Mike Spellman