Blackhawks muster little offensive punch, lose sixth consecutive game

The Blackhawks continued to get a taste of life without injured forwards Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar in their 3-1 loss Tuesday to the Flyers. It was their sixth consecutive defeat.

The Hawks were relatively even in shots on goal through the first two periods, but the Flyers did a good job of forcing them to take most of their shots from farther out. Without Bedard and Nazar, the Hawks don’t have the kind of offensive talent required to produce consistent scoring chances and keep a defense on its heels.

Forward Ryan Donato scored the Hawks’ lone goal with 1:30 left in the second period. There were times throughout the game when the Hawks either didn’t get a shot off or elected to not carry the puck into the teeth of the Flyers’ defense.

The most aggressive the Hawks were was during the second period, when they notched 10 shots on goal. They’re going to have to do a better job of scoring ‘‘dirty’’ goals off rebounds and tip-ins with Bedard and Nazar out.

Foligno close to return

Captain Nick Foligno is nearing a return from a hand injury that has sidelined him since mid-November.

Foligno practiced in full Monday for the first time since suffering the injury and participated in the Hawks’ morning skate Tuesday. Head coach Jeff Blashill said he hopes Foligno can return after the Christmas break.

That’s good news for the Hawks, who can use forward help after losing Bedard (shoulder) and Nazar (face) to injuries.

‘‘[Foligno is] a guy who knows when to say something, when to stand up and talk,’’ Blashill said. ‘‘[He] knows when to take charge outside of the coaching, but also . . . he’s a guy who can go and tilt the ice. He can go and make sure the momentum doesn’t keep going the other way, whether that’s through good defending [or] whether that’s through playing in the ‘O’ zone. Those guys are important.

‘‘Guys who can go out and change momentum or eat minutes, defend [well], play in the ‘O’ zone, have a physical hit, those guys are really important. That’s a piece we certainly missed with him out of the lineup.’’

Even though Foligno has been out, teammates say he still has been connected and communicative.

‘‘His impact and presence is still there,’’ rookie forward Oliver Moore said. ‘‘But having him in the lineup is even more important. He brings so much to the team.’’

Adding Foligno’s safe and structured play will be beneficial as the Hawks play a more predictable style of hockey without their best offensive players.

Moore learning as he goes

Moore, 20, was a part of the Hawks’ power play for the first time Tuesday. He entered the game with three goals and six assists in 23 games.

Blashill said he has been pleased with Moore’s disposition and progress so far, but he also said there are moments he wants Moore to learn from. On Saturday against the Senators, Moore got the puck stripped from him by Brady Tkachuk.

‘‘Hopefully the next time he’s in that spot, he remembers that and uses his body a little bit and does things differently,’’ Blashill said. ‘‘You have to learn at some point, and he’s learning as we go.”