Hawks' 4-game winning streak ends in St. Louis

ST. LOUIS -- The Blackhawks knew there would be nights like this as Stanley Cup champions.

The Blues were jumping from the outset at a raucous Scottrade Center on Friday night and the Hawks, who didn't bring their ‘A' game, could hang on for only so long.

It was tied going to the third period, but the Blues got late goals from Roman Polak and Patrik Berglund to end the Hawks' four-game winning streak with a 4-2 victory.

“We needed a better performance tonight,” Hawks winger Jack Skille said. “We play with a target on our backs and we accept the challenge. We just can't come out of the gate like we did tonight.”

Despite a slow start, the Hawks escaped the first period tied 1-1 on Patrick Sharp's seventh goal of the season on a power play.

It was 2-2 after two periods after David Perron and Brent Seabrook traded goals, but Polak's shot from the right side with 8:59 to play got through Hawks goalie Marty Turco.

“I just think we were a little too sloppy, myself especially,” said defenseman Duncan Keith, who was minus-2. “The nice thing about it we have another game (today against Columbus) to redeem ourselves and play a better game.

“We can play better in a lot of different areas, whether it's moving the puck or playing our positions better.”

The Hawks were outshot 28-25 despite having considerable offensive zone time.

“I would have liked to see us throw the puck on net a little bit more,” Sharp said. “We did a good job of creating and hanging onto the puck, but with a goaltender like (Jaroslav) Halak, we've got to generate more chances like that.

“Give them credit; they pulled it out and we'll see them again down the road.”

It still was a 1-goal game deep into the third period, but a delay-of-game penalty to Seabrook for flipping the puck into the stands while under pressure at 18:07 led to Berglund's power-play goal with 1:03 to play.

“We had some stretches where we were all right, but it was a little sloppy at times,” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. “It was a pretty fast-paced game for a lot of the game, but a tough way to end it.”

The Blues held Marian Hossa to just 1 shot on goal. The line of Hossa, Jonathan Toews and Tomas Kopecky was a combined minus-5 for the night and held scoreless.

“We had some chances to get to the net and we didn't look to do it, either shoot it or take it ourselves,” Quenneville said. “We didn't have enough puck support, particularly in the offensive zone. We did have some zone time, but we didn't generate much off it.”

Turco made some good stops but saw his personal four-game winning streak end as well. Quenneville said following the game he hadn't decided if Turco or backup Corey Crawford would get the start tonight against the Blue Jackets at the United Center.

The Hawks are now 5-3-1 with their next three games at home.

“All three games we've lost it was a tough way to end it,” Quenneville said.