Blackhawks bring it, but Panthers win 5-2
Moral victories can be valuable learning tools in Little League, AAA hockey, AYSO soccer and basketball and plenty of other youth sports.
They serve their purpose in the pros as well. But only to a point.
After a while, losing grates on anyone. And it's really starting to get to the Chicago Blackhawks.
"No one likes to lose, whether you're playing Monopoly or hockey," said defenseman Calvin de Haan after the Hawks dropped a 5-2 decision to the Florida Panthers at the United Center on Sunday.
It was the Hawks' 11th defeat in 14 games and their seventh straight setback at home.
The funny thing is, interim coach Derek King's squad played a solid game against one of the best teams in the NHL. The Hawks held Florida to just 3 shots on goal in a first period that ended in a 1-1 tie. They also did their best to match the Panthers' physicality, which seemed to cross the line at times. And they hung around long enough to make it 3-2 when Caleb Jones' shot slipped through Sergei Bobrovsky's legs at 12:38 of the third period.
In the end, it wasn't enough and the Panthers (35-10-5) iced it with a pair of empty netters in the final two minutes.
"We went toe to toe with one of the best teams for most of the game," de Haan said. "They did a good job through the neutral zone. At the end the day that hurt us.
"They just seemed to constantly get pucks by us, whether they are creating or not. It makes us come another 200 feet and then we dump it and then they've got fresh legs on."
Patrick Kane also scored for the Hawks when his shot from below the goal line clipped Bobrovsky's stick and bounced into the net with 32 seconds remaining in the first period.
"That's a lesson for goalies," King said. "Don't fall asleep when Patrick Kane's on the ice."
A key sequence occurred late in the second period when de Haan blasted Mason Marchment into the boards. A split second later, Florida's Sam Reinhart pinned de Haan against the Hawks' bench and then landed six punches to de Haan's head and neck.
A baffled de Haan was tagged with fighting and interference penalties.
"I didn't really think my hit was worthy of a penalty," de Haan said. "I kind of just glided into him for the most part. He's a big guy and he can take em. ...
"I asked the refs and they kind of just looked at me."
De Haan and Connor Murphy - who was the victim of a dangerous, headhunting hit by Marchment - were careful not to criticize the refs too much.
"The game happens so quick," de Haan said. "It's hard for those guys to do their job too, right? The game's never been faster. It's tough."
Brandon Montour gave Florida a 2-1 lead at 7:26 of the second period on a wrist shot that zipped past de Haan and then Marc-Andre Fleury.
MacKenzie Weegar scored 50 seconds into the third to make it 3-1. The puck hit Kirby Dach's stick and bounced up and over Fleury's extended left leg.
Aleksander Barkov had 3 points (G, 2A) and Jonathan Huberdeau had 2 assists for Florida.
The Hawks (18-26-8, 8-13-4 at home) continue a six-game homestand against New Jersey on Friday.
"It's hard. Losing (stinks), no matter where it is, but especially at home," said Murphy, who had 6 hits in 18:47. "We're still having good crowds and people are coming out and supporting us. We really appreciate them sticking with us on this homestand and ... trying to get us over the hump."