Blackhawks' playoff chances take another hit with 6-3 loss to Rangers
Some might say it's going to take a miracle for the Blackhawks to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs.
That being the case, it was certainly appropriate that Jack O'Callahan - a defenseman on the 1980 USA gold-medal winning hockey team - dropped the ceremonial first puck before the Hawks watched the Rangers explode for 5 third-period goals en route to a 6-3 victory at the United Center on Wednesday.
"One of the worst third periods - or worst period in general - we've had," said goalie Robin Lehner, who watched New York's lead go from 3-2 to 5-2 in under a minute on goals by Chris Kreider and Artemi Panarin at 8:48 and 9:41, respectively.
Dominik Kubalik notched a pair of goals - his 24th and 25th of the season - Drake Caggiula also scored and Duncan Keith recorded his 500th career assist, but it wasn't nearly enough against a dangerous, highly skilled Rangers squad that has won six straight on the road.
The Hawks (26-26-8, 60 points) are 1-5-2 over their last eight games and 12-13-4 at the United Center. They remain 8 points behind Calgary and Arizona in the wild-card standings, but are also well behind Winnipeg (67 points) and Nashville (65).
Colliton chalked up the lackluster performance to poor preparation by the coaches and the players. He said turning things around begins Thursday at practice.
"(Make) sure that whatever we do, we do it with intention and like it's a game," Colliton said. "When you prepare in that way, then when it becomes game time and the intensity goes up to 100 it's not that big a shock. You've got those habits in you."
The coach believes his players understand that every team's level rises at this time of year. It's just a matter of matching it.
"I thought we played pretty hard on the road trip," Colliton said. "It wasn't perfect, but the last three games in particular we played pretty hard.
"But you've got to do it over and over and over and over again. When you face adversity you've got to stick with it. That's when you break through. And if you don't you get swept away."
Which is exactly what may happen to the Hawks if they don't flip the switch in a big, big hurry.
That'll leave a mark:
Zack Smith was on the ice for morning skate Wednesday, but remains out for 3-6 more days with a left hand injury he suffered last week against Vancouver. Smith's hand required 20 stitches after it was run over by an opponent's skate.
Smith said the cut ran horizontally across his hand, basically creating an additional line.
"I can fool the palm readers now," he quipped.
Slap shots:
Patrick Kane recorded his 48th assist during the Hawks' 6-3 loss to the Rangers. It was his 1,013th career point, which ties him with Pat Lafontaine for 86th on the all-time list. ... With his 500th assist Wednesday, Duncan Keith became the first Blackhawks defenseman to reach that number since Doug Wilson (554). Keith is also 1 point shy of 600 for his career. ... The Rangers' Artemi Panarin scored his 30th goal of the season, reaching that mark for the third time in his career. The other two came with the Hawks in 2015-16 when he scored 30 and 2016-17 when he scored 31. ... Adam Boqvist returned to the lineup against the Rangers after sitting out one game.