The ending to the Blackhawks’ 1-4-1 homestand and their fourth loss in a row Wednesday night was befitting of many adjectives.
Joel Quenneville called losing 3-2 to the Maple Leafs just six seconds into overtime on William Nylander’s penalty shot “tough.” Connor Murphy labeled it “disappointing.”
Duncan Keith, who committed the penalty against Nylander, didn’t call it anything as he didn’t address the media afterward.
One adjective that was omitted but was perhaps most fitting, though, was “fitting.”
All the Hawks could do was stand and watch helplessly as Nylander went one-on-one against goalie Jeff Glass with victory, and another point in the standings, on the line.
The Hawks likely will have to almost double their point output of 51 the rest of the way to have a shot at landing a playoff spot for the 10th straight season.
“There’s not much else to be said other than, yeah, disappointing,” Murphy said. “Guys are mad. Playoffs are on guys’ minds so much I think sometimes that can be a double-edged sword — wanting it so bad guys slip up at the odd time.”
Murphy said the Blackhawks aren’t ready to stick a fork in themselves just yet, despite the odds becoming increasingly stacked against them. At 22-19-7 with 51 points, they are six points out of the second wild-card spot with four teams ahead of them.
“We put ourselves in a tremendous hole,” Quenneville said. “We certainly left a lot on the table here (on the homestand).”
There was some good for the Hawks, who scored a power-play goal for the first time in 17 chances when Brent Seabrook’s zinger bounced off the stick of a Maple Leaf and in 5 minutes, 29 seconds into the game. Nick Schmaltz added another in the third period.
Going into Wednesday the Hawks were tied for the second-worst power-play percentage (14.8) despite being tied for the second-most chances in the league at 175.
If that doesn’t change it would be the lowest the Hawks have finished in the power play since Quenneville took over in 2008-09. They were 26th in the league in 2011-12 when they converted just 15.2 percent of their chances.
“The power-play goals helped,” Quenneville said. “The last game, (there were) a lot of positives. Good things tonight (too).
“The league is good. You have to find ways to win games and find different ways to get some production as well.”
The Hawks received some of that from some new lines.
Alex DeBrincat joined Jonathan Toews and Anthony Duclair on the top line. Brandon Saad shifted to the second line with Patrick Kane and Schmaltz, whose tying goal withstood the scrutiny of replay after the Leafs challenged that Artem Anisimov had committed goalie interference.
The changes resulted in some quality chances early, though the Hawks hit the post twice in the first period to run their season total to a league-high 39.
“We had some good looks,” Schmaltz said. “(I was)fortunate to get one there. A couple of big power-play goals, but it wasn’t enough.”
The Hawks began and ended Wednesday night in last place in the Central Division, looking for their first goal in two-plus games. The night ended as they watched a goal they would like to forget.
But one goal remains, no matter the Wednesday’s outcome.
“What is there, like 30 games left?” Murphy said. “There are chances there. With the talent in this room, we have it. It’s just about breaking free of this slump.”
Twitter @ChiTribSkrbina
Paul Skrbina’s three stars
1. William Nylander, Leafs: Goal six seconds into OT was winner.
2. Nick Schmaltz, Blackhawks: Scored tying goal, had assist.
3. Frederik Andersen, Leafs: Made 34 saves.
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