Artyom Levshunov Proves He Belongs, as Blackhawks Lose to Avalanche

The Chicago Blackhawks’ five-game point streak was snapped in a 3-0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. The result is not upsetting because, once again, the young players went toe-to-toe with a superior team. The game was much closer than the final score says, as the Avalanche won their sixth in a row.

Nathan MacKinnon thought he picked up his 1,000^th NHL point by setting up a Martin Necas goal early in the first period. However, the Blackhawks challenged the play for being offside, and the officials took the goal off the scoreboard after a lengthy review.

Midway through the second period, the Blackhawks got a two-man advantage for 1:52. However, they flipped the momentum back to Colorado by not converting and only getting two shots on goal.

MacKinnon got his 1,000^th point in the opening minute of the third period with the secondary assist on Artturi Lehkonen’s redirect goal from the slot. MacKinnon is just the 16^th player in NHL history to score 1,000 points before his 30^th birthday.

Colorado doubled the lead three minutes later. Spencer Knight’s pass along the boards was fumbled, and MacKinnon got the puck to Necas in the slot, where he got back his goal that was taken away earlier.

To the Blackhawks’ credit, they did not roll over and play dead after going down 2-0. They went on the attack the very next shift. Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood came up with some huge stops to keep the visitors off the scoreboard. Joel Kiviranta put the game away with a late empty-net goal.

In Knight’s first two starts, he stole victories for the Blackhawks. Tonight, Wedgewood did the stealing, making 21 saves for his eighth career shutout.

Artyom Levshunov Came Ready to Play

Artyom Levshunov has gone from the No. 2 pick of the NHL Draft in June to being a struggling rookie with the Rockford IceHogs in November to making his NHL debut on Monday night. The first-year blueliner has played his best hockey over the past few weeks, with 11 points in his last 14 games. At the time of his recall, he led all AHL rookies with 137 shots on goal.

“I was dreaming of this moment all my hockey life,” Levshunov said. “For sure, it’s unbelievable to make debut tonight. It’s incredible.”

Levshunov said his family would be up early to watch his big debut, which started at 4 a.m. in his native Belarus. Interim head coach Anders Sorensen had no worries about putting the 19-year-old out there against the Avalanche.

“Let’s get after it,” Sorensen said. “It’s the NHL, right? If you want to be in the NHL, you’re going to play the best.”

Levshunov never looked out of place, and his confidence grew as the night went on. He admitted getting some time on that second-period 5v3 where he got off a couple of good shot attempts.

The rookie finished with three shots on goal, six shot attempts, and two blocked shots in 20:55 of total ice time. It is amazing how calm he looked, considering he was in the USHL two years ago. I’m not saying he’s here to stay, but this was a great debut. He showed off many of the tools that made him the second overall pick last summer, and he’s only scratched the surface of his development.  

Jason Dickinson Quiet in Return

Another surprise roster addition on Monday was getting Jason Dickinson back for injured reserve. The Blackhawks’ best defensive forward missed the last 11 games after suffering a high ankle sprain against the Edmonton Oilers on Feb. 5.

Sorensen couldn’t help himself and split up the top line by putting Dickinson on Connor Bedard’s right wing, dropping Frank Nazar down to the third line. Bedard got a couple of shifts with Nazar late in the game, but splitting the young duo up after a pair of solid games together was still strange.

Dickinson played 16:22 in his first game back, including 2:33 on the penalty kill. He was on the ice for two Avalanche goals, had three shot attempts, and won six of his 10 faceoffs. At 5v5, his line with Bedard and Colton Dach produced four scoring chances and allowed five. They had a 2-1 advantage in danger-scoring chances.

We’ll see how the lines shake out with an extra day off for practice before their next game at the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night.

Odds & Ends

• The Blackhawks essentially played with only five defensemen the entire night. Alec Martinez left the game after taking a shot to the arm or hand in the first period and only played 3:23. Sorensen said he’s “day-to-day” after the game. There are two extra defensemen on the roster in Louis Crevier and T.J. Brodie.
• Tonight’s game looked like it might get away from the Blackhawks after the first period. The Avalanche had 19 first-period shot attempts to the Blackhawks’ seven. They also held a 13-5 advantage in scoring chances. Over the final 40 minutes of the game, the Blackhawks had a 37-34 edge in shot attempts, led 19-14 in scoring chances, and 8-5 in high-danger scoring chances. Unfortunately, Wedgewood had his best game of the season.
• The Blackhawks went 0-for-4 on the power play in Denver. They have been in or around the top 10 on the mad advantage all season. However, it’s been a chore of late, as they’ve gone 0-for-8 in their last three games. They need to get clicking again on the power play because scoring goals at 5v5 has been an enormous problem all year.
• Captain Nick Foligno made a postgame comment that got everybody’s ears up. He said part of the reason for the recent improved play is that they “have gotten rid of some distractions.” Wonder what he meant by that……