Instant Analysis: Blackhawks Force OT Late, but Fall to Jets 3-2

CHICAGO – The Blackhawks had just one comeback win at home when trailing after two periods. Tyler Johnson tried to flip that script with a late goal in the third that tied it at two. But the Jets responded just 25 seconds into overtime with a Kyle Conner goal that sealed a 3-2 loss for Chicago.

It’s the Hawks third loss in a row. This one, though, featured a Blackhawks team that was engaged from the start and had a tenacious third period that rallied them, albeit without the ending they would have liked.

The Blackhawks started strong, applying pressure and a strong forecheck that forced a couple uncharacteristic mistakes. They even ended the first period ahead in shots 11-8, but a Nik Ehlers goal that was in and out of the net even faster gave Winnipeg a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

It was Ehlers again on an individual play that saw him pick up speed in the neutral zone, weave through a few Blackhawks, and finish by using Jaycob Megna as a partial screen to bury his second of the game.

The Hawks from there were chasing the play until a beautiful stretch pass from Seth Jones sprung Colin Blackwell on a breakaway. The gritty forward buried his fifth of year and second in as many games, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

Johnson buried his 12th of the season with just 43 seconds left, roofing one over a sprawling Connor Hellebyuck to even things at two in the third.

But Connor ripped a shot past Mrazek just 25 seconds in, sending the Hawks to their third straight loss.

Tenacious Effort Nearly Pays Off for Blackhawks

They don’t want the moral victories and tying it late doesn’t dull the sting of losing. But the Blackhawks came out of the gates strong, yielded a bit early in the second, but Blackwell’s goal woke Chicago up, ending the middle frame stronger and then outshooting the Jets 14-7 in the third period.

They’ve spoken about playing a full sixty minutes and they pushed it an extra 25 seconds more.

But they’ll have to wait until Sunday to see if they close out Chris Chelios jersey retirement with a win to snap the three-game skid.

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