'We want it to spike right back up': Blackhawks look to snap 3-game skid
Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson said in his preseason press conference: "You want to keep the highs really rolling high and longer. And then when it spikes down low, we want it to spike right back up. Get it right back up on the up train, not hit down low and stay there awhile."
After rolling out an early high by winning four consecutive games in the beginning of the season, the Blackhawks have now reached their first low, riding a three-game losing streak.
Time to get back on the up train.
"It's little things," Richardson said. "Little details in the game that seem to be costing us, but if we can kind of clean up one, you know, and then move on to the next one. And we're not going to fix everything in one day. But we got to just make people aware of situational play in the game ... So we've just got to make sure that we're playing smart hockey, not just playing hockey."
It's little things. It's line rushes against in the defensive zone. Not over-back checking and keeping a lookout for the next wave of players coming in. It's the penalties. Not capitalizing on power plays and putting themselves in too many penalty kill situations.
"(The penalty kill) just gets stressed when you take another penalty right after you kill one," Richardson said.
With defenseman Seth Jones (right thumb), center Tyler Johnson (left ankle) and goalies Petr Mrazek (groin) and Alex Stalock (concussion protocol) all out, it makes fixing these key elements more difficult.
The Blackhawks (4-4-2) face another .500 team this Thursday in the Los Angeles Kings. A perfect opportunity to get back on the tracks, just like Richardson wants.
Goalie Wells signed:
The Blackhawks announced Wednesday that the team signed 24-year old goaltender Dylan Wells to a one-year, two-way contract.
Wells has appeared in three games with Rockford this season and has a 1-1-0 record, .862 save percentage and a 4.27 goals against average. He has played in 25 career AHL games with Bakersfield, the Chicago Wolves and Rockford.
The move gives the Blackhawks another option in net as Mrazek and Stalock remain sidelined.
With such an opportunity being handed to him, Wells' wide smile at practice Wednesday morning was understandable.
"I think the mindset is just treating it like any other hockey game or any other practice," Wells said. "For me, my job is to stop the puck. That doesn't matter if I'm in the NHL or the AHL or wherever I'm playing, I just kind of try to keep the same approach and keep my game simple and fun with it."
Purple Carpet back Thursday:
Thursday's game will be "Hockey Fights Cancer" night at the United Center and feature a purple carpet event to honor fans who are currently battling cancer, in remission or walking in memory of a loved one. "I Fight For" signs will be available to all fans.