Blackhawks can't overcome another multi-goal deficit: 'It's frustrating'

Blackhawks can't overcome another multi-goal deficit originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

The Blackhawks knew going into the 2020-21 season that there would be some serious growing pains, especially after the injuries/illnesses to Kirby Dach and Jonathan Toews and no Corey Crawford, who was the backbone of this team for the last decade.

Three games in and the Blackhawks are already facing adversity. They've given up five goals in each of their first three games, have scored only one 5-on-5 goal, and are still searching for their first win of the season.

"It's frustrating," Alex DeBrincat said following a 5-2 loss to the Florida Panthers on Sunday. "We work hard to get back in games, then they go down and score. I think we've just got to — I feel like a broken record — play a full 60 minutes. We go down early in the second, battle back and end up losing by a lot. We just got to be better."

The Blackhawks have played 180 minutes of hockey this season and haven't held a lead yet. Perhaps more frustrating is the fact the Blackhawks have fallen into a multi-goal deficit in each of the first three games.

The first two games against the defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning is understandable. But against a rusty Panthers team playing in their first outing of the season? The Blackhawks were disappointed they couldn't take advantage.

"Ultimately, for me, the disappointment lies in that we didn’t play well enough," head coach Jeremy Colliton said. "We weren’t clean enough with the puck, we weren’t sharp enough in little situations that make the difference in the game. We know we've got to be better. We want to get a win and we want to show a result for the hard work, and I just didn't think we gave ourselves enough of a chance tonight."

The Blackhawks thought they scored the first goal on Sunday but had it taken away after Patrick Kane was ruled offside. The Panthers went on to score the next two, which wasn't ideal, but the Blackhawks fought back to even up the score at 2-2.

They simply didn't give themselves a chance to build on that momentum after allowing a goal 22 seconds later, leading to two goals in a span of 1:18 in the third period. It was a back-breaker for the Blackhawks.

"It’s definitely something that was a theme tonight," Connor Murphy said. "You’re definitely not going to have a chance to win. We showed against a team like Tampa a couple days ago that they have the firepower that anytime you give them a sniff, they’re going to take advantage.

"Even tonight, they don’t have the same lineup that Tampa does but they were able to capitalize with their forwards. In the NHL, in general, you’re going to give up goals if you give them good looks and that’s just what we’ve shown in these games."

It's going to be a challenge for the Blackhawks to put together a solid 60-minute effort in games this season, given the youth movement and impact-players they're missing from the roster. But they're going to focus on putting one foot in front of the other and that's all they can control right now.

"Just go one day at a time, that’s all you can control is what you have in front of you," Murphy said. "Next game, just know that you can control your shift and you can control what you have to give to the team to be better in whatever way is possible. You’re not getting anywhere by being negative so optimism, positivity and enthusiasm is key."