Power Play Shines, and Mrazek Struggles Again in Blackhawks Loss to Blue Jackets

The Chicago Blackhawks and Columbus Blue Jackets squared off for their first matchup of the season. This will be the third time first-round picks Connor Bedard and Adam Fantilli will face each other, with Bedard having a goal and an assist and Fantilli having an assist in the contests. The last two times the Blackhawks and Blue Jackets faced each other, the Blackhawks let up five-plus goals in each game. Columbus’ offense has been hot, scoring 17 goals in their last four games, while the Blackhawks were looking to regain the scoring touch they found in their 6-2 win against the Dallas Stars on Nov. 27. Yet, Columbus continued their offensive clinic against the Blackhawks.

Here are 4 thoughts from the Blackhawks 6-3 loss to the Blue Jackets.

1. Bedard Is Heating Up for Blackhawks

After going 12 games without a goal, Connor Bedard now has two goals in his last three games (4 points in 3 games), as he scored an early power-play goal to put the Blackhawks up early 1-0. He also had an assist on Nick Foligno’s 5-on-3 goal.

Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times also pointed out a fun stat: Bedard has 17 blocks this season in 24 games, whereas he had 27 blocked shots last season.

Bedard is playing with more and more confidence and is heating up.

And since I mentioned his matchup with Fantilli in the beginning, Fantilli didn’t have a point in the game, but he won five of seven faceoffs against Bedard.

2. Blackhawks Power Play Is Also Heating Up

The Blackhawks power play is 14th in the NHL, yet it felt stalled for a bit. Now, the power-play has goals in their last three games, including three against the Blue Jackets.

It also shows how pivotal Bedard is to the power play. His getting back to himself has been big for special teams and Ryan Donato has been pivotal, too. He racked up another assist on the power play. Lastly, I have to give a shoutout to Craig Smith, who had the second goal on the man advantage to tie the game 2-2. His six goals are tied with Teuvo Teravianen for the third-most on the team. He is having a really great season for the Blackhawks.

We also have to talk about Alex Vlasic, who had a standout game on defense. He had an assist on Bedard’s goal and now has six power-play points on the season.

3. Theme Was Lost Momentum

The Blackhawks kept losing their momentum in the span of minutes. Bedard opened the scoring two minutes in, then Columbus’ Ivan Provorov answered less than two minutes later. Kent Johnson (who is also Bedard’s good friend), made it 2-1 in the first. Craig Smith scored the tying power-play goal in the second period, but Columbus’ Sean Monahan took the lead back 3-2 over a minute later.

The Blackhawks did make it a 4-3 game on a 5-on-3 power-play in the third, and then Columbus scored two minutes later to make it 5-3.

Not being able to build off their momentum swings was a killer for the Blackhawks in this game.

4. Mrazek Wasn’t Their Best

Petr Mrazek has had an interesting couple of games. He has rarely given up more than three goals in a game this season. The last time he did was Oct. 22 against the Vancouver Canucks when he allowed six goals. He has let up eight goals in the last two games. Not every goal was on him, but some were. He did have a big save on a Columbus power play in the third period, but overall, these last two games have not been his best.

It’s a different change of pace for Mrazek. He will be fine, but it has been odd to see him not be “perfect.”

For more Blackhawks News from Jim Lynch and Brooke LoFurno, visit Chicago Hockey Now, subscribe to our YouTube and like our Facebook page.

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