Less than 24 hours ago, the Blackhawks blew a 2-0 lead and lost in a shootout to the Predators in Nashville. (Seriously -- shouldn't the NHL change this? In baseball, it would be like playing a 10th inning after a nine-inning tie and then have the game decided by a home run derby.)
Anyway, the Preds beat the Hawks for the third time in four meetings so far this season. Corey Crawford's shutout streak is over; he played well enough, but the Hawks' star players -- Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews -- are just not scoring enough. The Hawks are seventh in the NHL in total goals scored, but it sure doesn't seem like it. The only Blackhawk scoring on a consistent basis is Patrick Sharp, who is fourth in the league in goals with 25. The next Hawk on the list is Toews, with 16. Sharp is 13th in points and no other Blackhawk ranks in the top 40 in the league in scoring.
It's almost as if Crawford has to shut out opponents every night, which just isn't possible.
Tonight's game begins at 6 p.m. CST and will be televised on WGN (Chicago only).