Blackhawks Game #55: ‘Sens’ing A Chance to Break the Losing Streak

The Chicago Blackhawks (14-37-3) take on the Ottawa Senators (22-26-2) this afternoon at the United Center. Puck drop is at 2:00pm.

Previously on Blackhawks Hockey:

The Pittsburgh Penguins were fighting to remain buyers at the trade deadline and keep that contention window open. The Blackhawks were celebrating Connor Bedard’s return.  So when Sidney Crosby scored 15 seconds into the game, it wasn’t going to be any surprise if the Hawks couldn’t answer. While they mustered a goal, they fell 4-1 and lost their eighth straight.

How to Watch and Listen

TV: NBC Sports Chicago
Radio: WGN 720

Scouting the Opponent & Miscellaneous Musings With Connor Bedard Back

Ottawa presents a chance to stop the losing streak, the first team to come into the United Center with a sub .500 record since the San Jose Sharks back in January. The Hawks have their longest losing streak since last season, which featured three eight-game skids.

In a bit of coincidence, it was exactly a year ago that the Blackhawks defeated Ottawa 4-3 and kicked off a five-game winning streak. Their record at that point last year? 17-32-5.

The one note of interest will be seeing what the Blackhawks do with Lukas Reichel. The winger will sit out his second straight game and head coach Luke Richardson didn’t dissuade the option that a return to Rockford could be in the works.

That of course, could be a blow to the psyche of a player who was considered ready to take the next step at the NHL level. It simply hasn’t happened. Instead, it’s been long stretches without goals (just three in 51 games) and finally hitting double digits in points with an assist on Thursday.

A demotion doesn’t mean doom, either. But it’s certainly not the route anyone would have predicted at the start of the season.

So with Reichel watching again, and the Blackhawks facing a ninth straight loss, there are still plenty of compelling story lines in a season that’s been a foregone conclusion for several months.

Ottawa helped them break one streak and start another. Can history repeat itself right to the day?

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