Turnover trouble dooms Blackhawks
After a 3-2 loss Saturday in Toronto, Patrick Kane was asked if it was time to worry that the Blackhawks had just lost for the fourth time in six games.
"There's cause for concern," Kane admitted, "but try to regroup, big one Sunday against Winnipeg. Hopefully our fans give us a little bit of a boost and we can regroup here."
Well, the sold-out crowd at the United Center sure tried its best to help, working it through the anthem and a pregame tribute to Marian Hossa.
But the Hawks simply didn't do their part in a 1-0 loss to the Jets.
And now, after seeing their offensive drought reach a startling proportions - 7 consecutive periods at home without a goal - and dropping their fifth game in their last seven, maybe it is time to worry, at least about where the offense has gone.
"Whether it's a timely goal or an ugly goal, you get what you deserve in this business," coach Joel Quenneville said. "It's a tough game and it's a hard game.
"You can mention any name and we're not getting the production we're looking for."
It's not like the Hawks, who have only been outshot twice this season, aren't getting the chances, it's that they aren't making them count. They outshot the Jets 33-27, but just couldn't sneak one past Jets goalie Michael Hutchinson, who picked up his first career shutout.
"A lot of pucks around the net tonight, they're just not going in," Hawks captain Jonathan Toews said. "It's tough to explain why that is. It's frustrating, but what are you going to do?
"You have to work through it. You have to find a way to break out of that funk that we're in as far as goal scoring goes."
Just 20 seconds into Sunday's late starter, former Hawks forward Michael Frolik outwaited Corey Crawford for his first goal of the season, a goal that sucked the life out of the previously revved-up crowd and proved to be the only scoring on the night.
"We had a tough first shift and after that they had a perfect road game going," Quenneville said.
In other words, solid defense and some stellar goaltending from Hutchinson.
Crawford, meanwhile, looked sharp in his second consecutive start since returning from injury. He stopped 26 of the 27 shots he faced and was "solid," according to Quenneville.
But ...
"It's tough when you're going through this," the Hawks coach said. "We've got to find a way.
"Be positive, persevere and you get what you deserve."
• Follow Mike's Blackhawks reports on Twitter @dhspellman.