The Chicago Blackhawks got out of their funk by beating the Blues.
The Hawks ended an embarrassing four-game home losing streak to St. Louis with a 3-1 win at the United Center on Saturday. And better yet, the Hawks finally won a second game in a row — needing 26 games from the start of the season to do so.
“I think we really needed to build some momentum at home,” coach Luke Richardson said. “I think that’s important for our team, but also just for the culture around here moving forward. We want to make sure that we do that. So I think we’re feeling good.”
Richardson credited goalie Petr Mrázek for Saturday’s win and Thursday’s 1-0 victory over the Anaheim Ducks.
“It really frustrates the other team and they’re dumping the puck in and they can’t even forecheck because Petr’s playing them so well,” Richardson said. “That’s been key to us just feeling confident.
“We know Petr’s been big back there and playing well and I think that’s been huge for us to get these back-to-back victories.”
In fact, dating back to the Minnesota Wild game on Dec. 3, Mrázek has gone 124 minutes and 55 seconds without allowing a goal.
“I just saw the puck really well,” he said. “Especially early, I had the breakaway (by Jake Neighbours) in the first minute … and that gets you going. And like I said two days ago, when you see the puck early it makes the game a little easier.”
The Hawks got goals from Anthony Beauvillier, Alex Vlasic and Jason Dickinson, helping them inch closer to .500 at home (5-6-1).
“Yeah, it’s great,” Vlasic said. ” I think it’d be huge going into the second half of the year and trying to make this a hard place to play.
“That was something that we tried to work on in training camp and it didn’t really happen at first, but if we can find a way to try to make teams battle for a win every night to come in here, then we’ll do our job.”
Here are four takeaways from the win.
1. Petr Mrázek came this close to consecutive shutouts.
The Hawks gave Mrázek a second straight start after shutting out the Ducks, and he kept his form against the Blues.
He was tested several times, including the second period, when he faced seven high-danger chances in five-on-five, according to NaturalStatTrick.com.
Mrázek came just 3 1/2 minutes away from consecutive shutouts before Oskar Sundqvist’s shorthanded goal spoiled the fun.
“Well, you don’t kind of think about it,” Mrázek said. “It was close, especially with the power play we had, I was like, ‘all right, maybe, might happen.’ But that’s the game. Sometimes those things happen and the goal could come earlier or later, so it’s totally fine.”
Still, for Richardson, it’s tough to sit with.
“We just have to be more responsible,” he said. “You know the other team, they’re going to have to try and go for it. So we just have to play that a little better.
“We owe Petr maybe another game where we have to dive in front of a few shots for him and try and preserve that shutout for him.”
2. Defensemen made big contributions on offense.
Nikita Zaitsev thought he had his second goal of the season in the first period. But after a review during intermission, Beauvillier was awarded the goal on the deflection.
“Doesn’t matter obviously,” Zaitsev said. “I’m glad Beau got his first one (for the Hawks), so it’s good.”
It was the first of two helpers for Zaitsev. On the second, he zipped a seam pass to Dickinson.
“I saw him jumping from the bench and he came back door,” he said. “Got to wait for a little bit. Good goal.”
Zaitsev said of his fellow blueliners, “We’ve got to shoot more, get the pucks through. It produces lots of troubles for the other teams because it’s hard to defend when the D’s are shooting all game.”
He said Vlasic’s goal — just the fourth by a Hawks defenseman this season — is a great example “because there’s lots of traffic in this league in front. You can’t see anything.”
Somehow Vlasic saw his shot roof the net from 66 feet, just another example of his progression.
“I haven’t been perfect, but I’ve impressed myself,” he said. “I try to continue to work on my game, gain some confidence, skate pucks, and just try and complete my game as a well-rounded defenseman.
“I think defensively is probably my strongest attribute but if I can get some pucks on net, create some chances offensively, I’ll be happy with it for sure.”
3. Connor Bedard’s childhood idol tour resumes.
It starts Sunday when the Hawks host Alex Ovechkin’s Washington Capitals and goes on the road for Tuesday’s showdown against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.
Bedard has received plenty of comparisons to both, though he’s likely heard the McDavid comparisons much more.
Bedard said he’s more wrapped up in the history and personal memories they represent than his first games against the pair.
“Going into every game, you can pick a player or group of players you’re excited to play against,” he said. “Getting to play Ovechkin will be pretty special. Just growing up and watching him, it was always him and (Sidney) Crosby battling. And of course McDavid, what he’s done in the last eight years is obviously remarkable.
“He’s going to go down as one of the best players ever. Him and (Leon) Draisaitl of course, it’s pretty exciting.”
4. Now about those comparisons …
Players with the potential to be an all-time great get compared to the greats all the time.
But when you zoom in, the contrasts loom larger.
Bedard has a quick shot like Ovechkin, but few have as hard a shot. Ovechkin won the hardest shot title at the 2018 NHL All-Star Game skills competition, registering out at 101.3 mph.
McDavid has won fastest skater three years in a row (2017-19), and Bedard has seen plenty of other examples of McDavid whizzing through defenses.
“I try to watch all the time,” Bedard said. “I wish I could implement (that); I don’t think I can move that fast or anything. But he’s the best player in the world and he’s so fun to watch.”