Even when they're down, Blackhawks are sticking up for each other

With the slumping Chicago Blackhawks facing a 3-0 first-period deficit in Nashville on Saturday, Duncan Keith was sent sprawling into the boards by the Predators' Miikka Salomaki.

And for Keith, that was the last straw.

The frustrations from all the losses, poor starts and lack of fire and compete bubbled to the surface.

"At some point," Keith told reporters after the Hawks' 5-2 defeat, "some sort of response is needed."

So Keith and the 5-foot-7, 165-pound Alex DeBrincat delivered one.

DeBrincat went toe-to-toe with the 6-1, 207-pound Matt Irwin - getting in three haymakers before being flung to the ice - and Keith then jumped Salomaki.

Keith earned an ejection and racked up a whopping 29 penalty minutes, DeBrincat was given his second fighting penalty of the season, and Nashville ended up with a seven-minute power play.

"(I would) rather our guys show some emotion and stick up for each other than not," Jonathan Toews said. "It's really nice to see (DeBrincat) drop his gloves like that. It's obviously highly unnecessary for that guy to be taking on that role. … Good on him for sticking up for Duncs."

Said Keith: "I don't expect that, but I'll remember that."

Identity theft:

Before Sunday's game against Calgary at the United Center, Jeremy Colliton was asked what he wants the Blackhawks to eventually look like.

Said Colliton: "Relentless. Never give up. Play for the team. Put individual priorities aside for team success. Moving the puck forward. Forcing them to make plays under pressure. Play in the offensive zone."

But does he have the players to do that? "Yeah, we do," Colliton said.

Slap shots:

The Blackhawks have allowed the first goal in seven straight games and have been outscored 18-5 in the first period over that time. … Gustav Forsling's 28 minutes, 49 seconds of ice time against Nashville on Saturday was the most by a Blackhawk this season.

Heading into Sunday, the Hawks were 0-for-12 on the power play in their previous six games. They converted on their fourth attempt against the Flames, however, when Dylan Strome scored at 15:45 of the second period to cut Calgary's lead to 3-2. Corey Crawford registered his second assist of the season and seventh of his career on the play.

John Hayden, Andreas Martinsen and Erik Gustafsson were scratched against the Flames. It was Gustafsson's first healthy scratch of the season. Chris Kunitz played for just the second time in eight games.