Bad timing costs Hawks in 3-2 loss to Rangers

NEW YORK -- Timing was everything for the Blackhawks on Monday night, and not in a good way.

The Hawks allowed 2 goals at critical times that didn't sit well with coach Joel Quenneville in a 3-2 loss to the Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

Leading 1-0 late in the first period, the Hawks let Brandon Dubinsky score with 21 seconds left before intermission.

Then in the third period after Patrick Kane's goal made it 2-2, the Rangers' Eric Christensen scored on the next shift.

“They're the important shifts, that's what we have to learn, last minute of periods, first shifts after goals it can't happen,” Quenneville snapped.

“I thought we had momentum and then they get that goal late in the first period and it just kills all of our momentum going into the break,” defenseman Duncan Keith said. “Then we tie it up in the third there and they score the next shift. Two goals we can't give up.”

The Hawks didn't play poorly by any stretch. They launched 63 shots at New York goalie Henrik Lundqvist, but only 35 got through. The Rangers blocked 33 shots, including 6 each by defenseman Dan Girardi and right wing Ryan Callahan.

Keith had a particularly tough time getting shots through from the left point.

“That's what you have to do against a team like Chicago that has so much skill,” Lundqvist said. “We had a lot of players in the middle of the ice blocking shots, and that's what it takes.”

“I couldn't seem to get many shots through, but I thought we could have done a better job than that,” said Keith, who had 12 of his shorts blocked.

“They did block a lot of shots,” Quenneville said. “We had some good shifts in the second and didn't get pucks through.”

The big-bodied Rangers had a 35-18 advantage in hits, but the Hawks still managed to control the play much of the time.

The difference in the game was the two mental lapses by the Hawks after goals.

“I didn't mind how we played, but certainly I didn't like what we gave up,” Quenneville said.

The Hawks didn't handle the Rangers' forecheck well on either of the killer goals.

“That's another thing we want to improve in is how we come out of our zone,” Jonathan Toews said. “We just have to support ourselves a little better coming out of our zone.

“Small defensive mistakes really cost us. We're never going to be satisfied with a loss, but there are some good things that we did. We're finally grasping the system and playing the way we're supposed to. It's just about eliminating mistakes out there. If we keep getting better we'll get the results we want.”

Tomas Kopecky scored the Hawks' first goal and nearly had a second in the waning moments on a 6-on-4 power play with goalie Marty Turco pulled for an extra attacker, but Lundqvist got over to his left in time to snuff out the attempt.

“The players are playing hard for him blocking shots, and Henrik has made some key saves at some key times in games that we won,” Rangers coach John Tortorella said.

<B>Tim Sassone's game tracker</B>

<P>Rangers 3, Blackhawks 2</P>

<P><B>Three stars:</B></P>

<P>1. Ryan Callahan, Rangers: A nice night's work with 2 assists, 6 blocked shots and 5 hits. </P>

<P>2. Brandon Dubinsky, Rangers: Scored 2 goals and won 9 of 12 faceoffs.</P>

<P> 3. Duncan Keith, Hawks: The best player on his team with 2 assists and a solid all-around game.</P>

<P><B>Did you know?</B> The Rangers lead the NHL in hits (327) and blocked shots (223). Defenseman Dan Girardi is tied for the lead in individual hits with 41.</P>