Despite loss, Blackhawks happy with effort

The Blackhawks took a whopping 84 shot attempts against Washington on Sunday.

They had five power-play opportunities. And only allowed one.

Yet, they lost.

That's what can happen, though, against one of the top teams in the league - and the Capitals certainly qualify. The Hawks, who managed to erase a 3-1 third-period deficit on goals by Dominik Kubalik and Patrick Kane, fell 5-3 at the United Center and are now 2-3-1 on the season.

"Great show of character to battle back," coach Jeremy Colliton said. "We give up a couple goals that took some momentum away and made it hard on us.

"But overall I'm pretty happy with the effort we had."

One of those momentum-killing goals came when Nic Dowd scored short-handed at 9:53 of the second period to give Washington a 2-1 lead. Seconds earlier, it appeared Alex DeBrincat was going to give the Hawks that lead, but his stick shattered on a point-blank one-timer and the puck trickled harmlessly to the end boards.

"DeBrincat probably buries that if his stick doesn't break," Kane said. "And then of course we catch a bad bounce and they score."

Kubalik was everywhere Sunday, taking 14 shots, 10 on goal. Three came in a five-second span while on a semi-breakaway in the second period.

Kane, meanwhile, notched his third goal of the season midway through the third period after Alexander Nylander (2 assists) intercepted a pass at the defensive blue line to spring his winger. It was a tally that really impressed Washington coach Todd Reirden.

"The deception and the false information that a guy like Kane gives you before he shoots that - I mean that's why he's one of the best," Reirden said.

The score didn't stay deadlocked long, though, as Tom Wilson made it 4-3 less than two minutes later. Just before the goal, Carl Hagelin delivered a shoulder that knocked Brent Seabrook to the ice. Hagelin then fed Wilson for the game-winner.

Despite the loss, there were impressive performances by Ryan Carpenter (10-for-12 on faceoffs, assist), David Kampf (assist), Brandon Saad (5 SOG, assist), Drake Caggiula (goal) and Nylander (3 takeaways).

"We did a lot of things right," Colliton said. "That's a pretty good team over there.

"We're definitely not satisfied with the result. At home we want to get two points, but I think that was one of our better performances of the season.

"Sometimes you don't get rewarded, but over time if you continue to play well, you do."