Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Blackhawks hope to stop recent troubles before they ‘snowball’ into playoffs

Chicago Blackhacks v Ottawa Senators

OTTAWA, CANADA - MARCH 28: Marian Hossa #81of the Chicago Blackhawks fires a shot against Marc Methot #3 of the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on March 28, 2014 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Francois Laplante/FreestylePhoto/Getty Images)

Francois Laplante/FreestylePhoto

What is going on with the Chicago Blackhawks?

The defending Stanley Cup champions have lost three of their last four games and that includes being shut out on two of those occasions. On Friday, they fell behind the Ottawa Senators and couldn’t catch up, losing by a final score of 5-3. Forward Andrew Shaw, perhaps venting some of that recent frustration, was ejected for spearing Senators’ forward Zack Smith with less than six minutes remaining in the third period.

Making the playoffs isn’t an issue for the Blackhawks, although they have yet to officially clinch a post-season berth. Sitting at 99 points, and with seven games remaining, it is very, very likely going to happen. Now eight points back of the St. Louis Blues, the Central Division might be too far out of reach.

But still, it will be a team expected to make another run for a Stanley Cup once the playoffs get going. However, these recent struggles could be enough to cast doubt on that notion.

“It’s not one or two guys, it’s throughout our whole lineup. Everybody seems to a part of the bad habits that are running contagiously through our lineup,” said Blackhawks’ captain Jonathan Toews, as per ESPN Chicago.

“We’ll address and get better at it and not let it snowball on us.”

Follow @CamTucker_Metro