Dietz: Long losing streak is clearly taking its toll on Toews, Blackhawks

Few things take a toll - both physically and emotionally - on professional athletes more than long losing stretches.

Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews demonstrated that fact after Tuesday's demoralizing 7-3 loss to Washington at the United Center. Not only was it the Hawks' 12th setback in 13 games, but they also watched Alexander Ovechkin score the 798th, 799th and 800th goals of his career.

A dripping-wet Toews - normally thoughtful and well-spoken during every postgame - offered a few terse answers after this one.

As for what went wrong defensively, Toews simply said: "Nothing was good. So not really a straight answer there."

So how do you fix the mistakes?

"I don't know what the first thing is," Toews said. "There's a lot of things right now."

Must be getting difficult to stay positive, right?

"It's the only choice we got," Toews said. "What else are you going to do?"

To Toews' credit, he did expound on a follow-up question to the morale issue.

Still, it's clear that the losses are infuriating the future Hall of Famer.

"I mean, what have we won one game in the past I don't know how many," Patrick Kane said after practice Wednesday. "It's probably weighing on a lot of people. After the game there's a lot of emotion. I think you have every right to be a little bit angry."

The Hawks (7-16-4) have been outscored 16-4 during a four-game losing streak and have managed more than 2 goals in just four of the last 13 games. They've also allowed 5 more goals in seven times during that stretch.

Their .333 points percentage is second-worst in the NHL, ahead of only Anaheim (.283).

None of us expected a miraculous playoff run out this season or even a .500 record.

Growth will come in baby steps.

One of the biggest concerns for coach Luke Richardson of late is how the Hawks are defending. Toews hit the nail on the head when he said "there's a lot of things" that are going wrong on that end.

Guys are coasting instead of skating hard. They're not looking over their shoulder. They're staring at the puck. They're waiting for teammates instead of being proactive themselves.

It's a recipe for disaster and it's playing out in front of everyone's eyes.

"We have to be more aware," Richardson said. "Let the guys back do the job. Then (the second and third forwards) especially have to stop in the slot. We can't come and curl away. It looks like they're kind of gliding and then they're curling away, but they're just following the puck.

"It's like tractor beam and it pulls them in."

It's essential for Toews, Kane, Tyler Johnson, Seth Jones, Connor Murphy and every other veteran to set the right example in this area.

There can be no cheating for offense, and 100% effort must be there at all times.

The meltdown against the Capitals gave us many examples of veterans blowing assignments or just not being hard enough on the puck.

On Ovechkin's first goal, Toews and Jones were right there, but they both gave the Capitals' superstar a chance and he took advantage. After 24 seconds, the Hawks were already down 1-0.

Less than eight minutes later, the puck went past Toews' stick and right to Ovechkin. Bam. Another easy goal.

On Washington's third tally, four Hawks were either below the goal line or well to the right of goaltender Petr Mrazek. One was Kane, who wasn't checking his back shoulder. In came Trevor van Riemsdyk for the easiest goal of his career.

The Capitals' fourth goal came as a result of a turnover in the Hawks' offensive zone. Kane hung around the blue line for too long and it resulted in a two-on-zero rush for the Caps. Mrazek made the initial stop, but Kane left the middle of the ice, Nic Dowd slid in and it was another easy goal.

Richardson said Max Domi and/or Kane should have patrolled the middle instead of diving down toward Ovechkin.

Bottom line: There needs to be a lot more trust with everyone at all times.

"We were in sync in the beginning of the year," said Richardson, whose team was 4-2-0 after six contests. "Whether (or not) we won every game, we were moving together. Now no one's moving their feet except the one guy with the puck.

"We have to have our forwards slashing, moving our feet, demanding the puck and then the (defensemen) have to move it quicker. Both people have to join in on that marriage and earn that trust back again.

"That's how we have to play."