Hawks get a point, but struggles continue

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Blackhawks were left to search for positives after yet another defeat Wednesday night.

On the plus side, they did pick up 1 point to regain fourth place in the Western Conference thanks to their 4-3 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena.

But the power play failed three times in the clutch in the third period with the score tied, defenseman Cam Barker left the game in the second period with an undisclosed lower-body injury, and goaltender Cristobal Huet wasn't very good on 3 of the 4 goals he allowed, including Antoine Vermette's winner 2:38 into OT.

"We stemmed some of the flow going against us," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "Now we have to think of winning and being more confident at critical times of games."

The Hawks have lost four in a row for the first time all season and six of their last seven. They open a five-game homestand Friday against Edmonton that could decide if this season is going to get back on track.

"I guess there were some good signs tonight and we've got to keep building," Patrick Kane said. "It's not easy to get out of this slump right now. Hopefully we can make it easy on ourselves by doing it at home.

"It's a big stretch for us to get back on track, five straight games at home. Hopefully we can take advantage of it and get some points."

While Huet made some huge stops in the loss, the goals he allowed to R.J. Umberger in the first period, Rick Nash in the second and Vermette in OT were the difference between winning and losing.

Huet mishandled the puck behind the net and never got back quickly enough to re-establish himself in the crease on Umberger's goal at 3:29 of the first period.

That goal took away any momentum the Hawks had from Dave Bolland's goal at the one-minute mark - the first time in seven games they scored first.

Nash beat Huet short side. Vermette sneaked the puck through Huet in overtime after getting behind Brian Campbell.

"I think it went through his chest and his arm and squeezed its way in," Vermette said.

Quenneville gave Huet a pass on his night's work. Huet is 2-5 in his last 8 starts with a no-decision in a game the Hawks also lost against Pittsburgh.

"He stopped some breakaways and made some big saves," Quenneville said. "Sometimes he was effective and did what he had to do."

The extra point brought the Blue Jackets within 4 of the Hawks. Columbus has only 11 games to play compared with 13 for the Hawks and the Canucks.

"We knew we needed the extra point and played desperate for it," Nash said.

Bolland, Kane and Jonathan Toews scored for the Hawks.

"They have good players, and their top players were really good tonight," Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock said of the Hawks. "Every game I've coached against them, you're always on edge. You really have to have the attitude you are going to outscore them because I don't believe you can shut them down."

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