Hawks still winless after 4-1 loss to Canucks, but urge patience

Have patience.

Everyone's just getting to know each other. It takes time to develop chemistry and learn tendencies.

Eventually, the victories will come. It's a long season and there's plenty of time left.

Stay positive.

This sums up how the Blackhawks felt about their winless start heading into Thursday's game at the United Center against Vancouver.

But here's the question - when do you start showing anger and frustration? And not just on the ice, but in the interview room as well?

Because it's yet to happen, even after the Hawks lost yet again, this time 4-1 to Vancouver.

Patrick Kane calmly addressed the media afterward, saying it will take one victory to turn things around. Coach Jeremy Colliton remained calm and measured as well.

So it was finally time to ask - where is the fire? Is there any behind the scenes?

"I send my message to the team," said Colliton, whose team is now 0-4-1. "I don't need to video it for you guys. 'See, I'm doing my thing guys.'

"That's fake. It's for the team and I guess there may be a time (to do it in front of the press) depending on what comes up. But to me everything's got to be with a purpose."

The Hawks fell behind 1-0 at 6:36 of the first period, but managed to tie it up on a power-play goal by Alex DeBrincat off a feed from Patrick Kane.

Vancouver (2-2-1) snapped the 1-1 tie with a pair of second-period goals by Tanner Pearson at 9:55 and Brock Boeser at 18:21. Boeser scored with Dylan Strome (hooking) and Connor Murphy (slashing) in the penalty box.

"We know we have a good team, we know we can control the pace," Kane said. "We've shown that, especially the last couple games. We know we can do it.

"It's just like putting it together. I think we're pretty upbeat, as upbeat as you can be for being 0-4-1. You can't really think about the record too much. I know it's hard to do that, but if we find ourself winning just one game it would be a pretty good feeling."

The Hawks have not led in any game and have been outscored 17-3 at even strength.

Kane has been through some rough spots in his career before, pointing to a nine-game losing streak in 2012 that nearly cost that team a playoff berth. A victory against the Rangers on Feb. 16 righted the ship and the Hawks closed out that campaign going 16-5-4.

"Pretty good feeling, and we started going from there," Kane said.

Thursday's highlight for the fans was a pregame ceremony to commemorate Kane's 1,000th game. It was delayed seven months until the United Center could house a capacity crowd.

"It was a nice little ceremony," Kane said. "Would have made the night better if we got a win, but it was a pretty special moment. One that I'll never forget."

A feisty Detroit squad comes to the UC next, followed by the tough-as-nails Maple Leafs. So just how much pressure is Colliton feeling?

"It's always there," he said. "There was pressure from the first day I got here. It's up to us, and it's up to me to find a new way to give these guys what they need to perform at their highest level.

"And it's the same job every day."