Instant Analysis: Two Quick Boston Goals Doom Blackhawks

CHICAGO – Blackhawks fans thought Connor Bedard had another powerplay goal, sending the United Center into a roar as the home team took a 1-0 lead on the Boston Bruins.

The replay judge had other ideas.

Bedard absolutely fired a laser past Bruins netminder Jeremy Swayman but it would be ruled offside when Andreas Athanasiou just ever so slightly crossed the blue line before the puck crossed. The so close, yet so far feeling would be a running theme for Chicago all night long.

Boston won the challenge and later the game in a 3-0 win that vaults them to a sixth straight win and Chicago’s third straight loss.

But the Blackhawks had opportunities.

Corey Perry had an unbelievable chance later in the slot, on a touch pass as time wound down. The man advantage produced chances–and a disallowed goal–but nothing to show for it.

Boston got on the board first at the 16:10 mark of the second off a redirection from Pavel Zacha, who found enough space between Kevin Korchinski and Lukas Reichel to sneak the puck into the net for a 1-0 Bruins lead.

It was a slow progression from there, with the Blackhawks chasing more at times than controlling the game. Gifted a power play, it failed to generate and at one point, the Hawks slowed to regroup in their own end as they looked for one more rush.

But rookie Matthew Poitras scored just four minutes in and then Trent Frederic scored 56 seconds, snuffing out any hope for a Blackhawks comeback.

Blackhawks Power Play Stymied Again

Going scoreless on three attempts, the Blackhawks man advantage seemed to lose steam as chances occurred. It wasn’t as if they didn’t get chances. It was either they couldn’t convert or those same chances were few and far between. Seth Jones had at least three moments where he kept a puck in the zone on an attempted clear, one of which was on the aforementioned goal that was waived off.

So some bad luck wiped out what could have been Chicago’s third power play marker of the season. But bad luck can only be blamed for so long after chances unfortunately don’t find the back of the net.