The Blackhawks were 3-5-0 coming into Monday night’s game in Arizona, but morale was higher than ever.
Though the team found themselves dead last in the Central Division through eight games, each opponent on their record had been a true contender. They faced the Bruins, who are coming off the best regular season in NHL history, twice, and the Stanley Cup-winning Vegas Golden Knights twice. After picking up an overtime win against Vegas on Friday, the team was ready for a “break” in the form of the Coyotes.
… Or Not.
That matchup, however, proved to be anything but. The Blackhawks opened the scoring 28 seconds into the game on a beautiful feed from Kevin Korchinski that Connor Bedard knocked home, but it was all downhill from there. The Coyotes went on to score eight unanswered lamp-lighters, including a hat trick from Michael Carcone. In his first stinker of the year, goaltender Arvid Soderblom was pulled from the game after allowing seven goals on 22 shots, though he didn’t get much help from his defensive unit. After the game, Nick Foligno spoke with the media and offered a unique veteran insight on the ugly loss.
“This is gonna be really weird to say this, but maybe it’s a good thing [that loss] happens and we have five days to chew on it. Because I hope our team understands how you have to respect this league.
“It’s a bad feeling in here because we’re talking about trying to grow this. That was a perfect example of not anywhere close to what we’re trying to do.”
– Nick Foligno
It’s easy to say from the sideline, but Foligno is right. After a brutal start to the season, it felt as if the Blackhawks could walk into Tempe and easily take this game. Though Chicago performed surprisingly well against top-tier talent, they’re by no means a good team – one look at the division standings proves as much. Though the Coyotes aren’t expected to compete for a championship either, Foligno stressed that his team has to “respect this league.”
In for a Rough Week?
With the Blackhawks out of action until Saturday night, when they host the Panthers, it’s shaping up to be an interesting week of practice at Fifth Third Arena. This team does want to win. Perhaps no player wants it more than Bedard – his teammates have noticed his frustration when he loses even the simplest of competitions. A week ago, head coach Luke Richardson’s frustration boiled over as well when he told reporters that he wanted to “push for more this year.” If last week’s grueling practice was any indication, the Blackhawks are in for an exhausting week. That session came after a 3-0 loss to the 6-0-0 Bruins; what will this week’s look like after last night’s 8-1 loss to an average (or below) squad?
Foligno said it best when he wrapped up his comments with the fact that Monday night’s game was “not anywhere close” to where they expect to be. As the team looks to improve on last night’s performance, the veteran will be front and center as an outspoken leader.
