Blackhawks get buzzed 6-2 by Jets
It took just 11 seconds for Brandon Saad to give the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead at Winnipeg on Thursday night with a gorgeous snap shot that sailed past Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck.
Even better for Saad and Co., Winnipeg lost a challenge, saying the play was offsides, and the Hawks were awarded a 2-minute power play.
And that's where the good news ended for Hawks fans.
After a successful penalty kill, Winnipeg proceeded to embarrass goalies Anton Forsberg and J-F Berube by pumping in 5 first-period goals in under 15 minutes en route to a 6-2 victory.
Forsberg played just under 9½ minutes and allowed 3 goals on 6 shots. Berube went the rest of the way, making 30 saves.
"Consistency's been our biggest challenge all year," coach Joel Quenneville told reporters. "You get a break right off the bat and have some excitement in your game - and we had a heckuva game in here last time - and then it's like, OK, you're down 5-1 after one.
"That's the ballgame right there."
Go ahead and put half of the blame on Forsberg and half on his teammates for not competing hard enough in the defensive zone in the first 20 minutes.
Paul Stastny made it 1-1 just 3½ minutes after Saad's goal by redirecting a Nikolaj Ehlers pass between Forsberg's legs.
Two minutes later, Erik Gustafsson and David Kampf lost a battle in the corner, the puck was sent back to the point to Jacob Trouba, and Trouba zipped a shot on net that was tipped in by Joel Armia.
Then, at 9:26, Jack Roslovic wrested the puck away from Artem Anisimov, skated past the right faceoff dot and lifted a shot that sailed over Forsberg's left shoulder.
From there, the issue was never in doubt.
Brian Little and Kyle Connor made it 4-1 and 5-1 late in the first period and Hellebuyck made 24 saves as Winnipeg improved to 42-19-10. Connor, who started the season in the minors, added an empty-netter in the third period and has 25 goals on the season.
Patrick Sharp scored the Hawks' other goal. It was his ninth of the campaign and 286th of his career. He needs 2 more for 250 in a Hawks uniform.
Saad needs 4 more goals to reach 20 for a fourth straight season.
The Hawks (30-34-8) are at Buffalo on Saturday before playing five of their next six at home.