Hawks' chemistry issues should come as no surprise

Chemistry is a funny thing in hockey.

When a team is clicking like the Blackhawks were during a 12-game winning streak earlier this season, every player is on the same page and owns almost an uncanny ESP as far as knowing where their teammates are - and where they're going - on the ice.

But when things begin to unravel, that chemistry vanishes. And confusion reigns.

Considering all the faces that have joined the Blackhawks recently, perhaps we shouldn't be surprised this team had lost six of seven heading into their late-night game in Calgary on Saturday.

The Hawks, who managed to beat the Flames 4-1, are adjusting on the fly with new players such as Andrew Ladd, Tomas Fleischmann, Dale Weise, Christian Ehrhoff and Richard Panik. It's also a team that cycled through players like Trevor Daley, Ryan Garbutt, Rob Scuderi, Bryan Bickell, Tanner Kero and Viktor Tikhonov.

Before the Hawks played Dallas on Tuesday, there was talk of how they looked better in a win over Winnipeg and a shootout loss to Minnesota. Marian Hossa, though, was quick to offer words of caution, which proved prophetic after the Hawks were obliterated by the Stars.

"I felt like we did lots of good things, but there's lots of room for improvement," Hossa said. "The one thing is being more on the same page. Seems like we're working hard, but some shifts when we're not on the same page, it's hard to accomplish something."

After that 6-2 loss to Dallas, Patrick Kane echoed Hossa's thoughts.

"That's one thing that's kind of missing from our game right now is we're getting the puck and we're just kind of throwing it away," Kane said. "It seems like the other team has the puck more than us, which is a game we're not used to playing."

Against the Flames, Andrew Ladd gave the Hawks a 1-0 lead when he picked off a T.J. Brodie pass in front of the Flames' net and snapped a shot past Joni Ortio at 5:53 of the second period.

"I was trying to hold the middle and get my stick in the lane, and fortunately for me he just put it right on my tape," Ladd told reporters.

Calgary answered when defenseman Dougie Hamilton scored seven minutes later.

Then, moments after killing off a Flames power play that included 20 seconds of a 5-on-3, Andrew Shaw made it 2-1 when he re-directed a Michal Rozsival pass with 49 seconds left in the second period. Coach Joel Quenneville said Shaw "was lucky to get a shift" after taking a slashing penalty that gave the Flames that two-man advantage.

"He brings that energy and tenaciousness that we need right now," Quenneville said. "He got rewarded, but certainly a tough penalty to put you down 5-on-3."

Ladd and Teuvo Teravainen added empty-net net goals in the final 1:12. Kane picked up an assist on Teravainen's goal to give him 93 points on the season.

Scott Darling started his fifth straight game and Marcus Kruger played for the first time since mid-December. Corey Crawford remains sidelined by an upper-body injury, but Quenneville told reporters beforehand he has little doubt Crawford will be ready for the playoffs.

Darling was outstanding, making 31 saves.

The Hawks remain in third place in the Central Division, but are still just 2 points ahead of surging Nashville.

How the Hawks fare on this four-game trip will certainly be interesting, but it also may not tell us much considering the competition. In the end, the best players need to step up and help right the ship before the playoffs begin.

Said Quenneville: "They play the right way, they set the tone and they lead by example … and that's what we need."

And the sooner the better.

Scouting report

Blackhawks vs. Vancouver at Rogers Arena, 7 p.m.

TV: WGN, Radio: WGN 720-AM

The skinny: Vancouver was a respectable 22-20-12 on Feb. 10, but has gone just 5-14-1 since. The Canucks have also lost seven straight, scoring just 5 goals and getting shut out four times. ... Only two players have more than 32 points on the season - Daniel and Henrik Sedin, who have 59 and 51, respectively. Daniel needs 3 goals for his fifth 30-goal season and first since 2011-12. ... The Hawks and Canucks have split their two games, with both teams winning at home.

Next: Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center, 7 p.m. Tuesday

- John Dietz