Penalties prove costly in Hawks’ loss

For the second game in a row penalties hurt the Blackhawks in a big way.

While they were fortunate to survive their undisciplined play Friday at Columbus when they won in a shootout, they weren’t as lucky in Sunday’s 2-0 loss to Tampa Bay at the United Center.

The penalties that hurt the most were to Niklas Hjalmarsson and Corey Crawford for delay of game, Michael Frolik’s double-minor for high sticking and Ryan Johnson’s minor for hooking.

Hjalmarsson was in the box for flipping the puck into the stands when Vincent Lecavalier scored on a power play at 7:56 of the first period. The goal stood until Nate Thompson’s empty netter in the final minute.

“A lot of uselss penalties we’re taking,” Jonathan Toews said. “It was the same thing last game and we found a way to win that one, but obviously against a better defensive team like Tampa Bay it kind of takes you off your offensive game a little bit.”

Lecavalier’s goal came just eight seconds after Hjalmarsson’s penalty. He was left all alone in front by Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith to tap home Martin St. Louis’ centering pass.

“We found a penalty and how we defended it put us in a tough spot,” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said.

Frolik’s careless high-sticking penalty came at 4:42 of the second period and caught Lecavalier in the face. Lecavalier left the game and didn’t return.

Hanging on:

A year ago the Hawks went into the final week of the regular season battling the San Jose Sharks for the top seed in the Western Conference.

This season with four games to play the Hawks are battling just to get in the playoffs, hanging on to eighth place over Calgary and Dallas.

“You have the luxury maybe to try things a little bit, things that might work down the road for you (when you’re high in the standings),” Joel Quenneville said. “I don’t think we have that luxury right now. But the same thing is you’re playing to win, just like every opponent you’re facing here is playing to win, so nothing has changed in that regard.”

Scoreboard watching:

The Hawks have four games to play and lead Calgary by 1 point and Dallas by 3 for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.

The Hawks finish with Montreal, St. Louis, Detroit and Detroit.

Calgary has only two games to play, both at home against Edmonton and Vancouver.

Dallas closes with four games against Columbus, Colorado, Colorado and Minnesota.

Tip-in:

Patrick Sharp had his left knee examined by team doctors Sunday night with the hope he can return to skating this week.