Blackhawks look resigned to defeat, get exactly that against Blue Jackets

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Jeff Blashill warned the Blackhawks to not mentally go on break prematurely Wednesday, but it felt like they did exactly that.

With injuries to Wyatt Kaiser and Colton Dach hanging over the group, the Hawks let themselves become resigned to defeat in an eventual 4-0 loss to the Blue Jackets.

It marked their fourth shutout loss of the season and their sixth loss in their last seven games.

“There was a level of urgency and alertness that we didn’t have that we need to have,” Blashill said. “Every game matters, man. There [were]…too many guys that didn’t have their urgency level. You’re not always going to feel your best, but you’ve got to have the urgency level.

“I can’t say that’s happened very often with this team, to be honest with you. It wasn’t like we didn’t work; I’m not saying that. But that little level of extra urgency to make sure that you’re either corralling a pass, handling a pass, driving the net or winning a battle, those things weren’t quite there.”

Kaiser was defending a rush seven minutes into the first period when Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski fell on his left leg after getting hit by Sam Rinzel. He needed help getting to the locker room, putting little weight on that leg.

Blashill said Kaiser will “be out for a little bit,” although with the Hawks’ next game more than three weeks away, the timing might work out favorably. More tests Thursday will determine the exact severity of the injury.

Dach left the game after getting tied up with Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson along the boards early in the second period. Blashill described his injury as minor. It seems unlikely to affect his availability after the break.

Meanwhile, Hawks forward Ryan Donato, coming off his best game of the season Monday, went for an inexplicably poorly timed line change out of frustration just before the Jackets’ second goal, then failed to control a Nick Foligno pass before the Jackets’ third goal.

The Jackets, who have won 10 of 11 since firing coach Dean Evason and hiring Rick Bowness on Jan. 12, didn’t let much happen in either direction after claiming that lead.

They also continued a dominant run over the Hawks, having outscored them 35-12 with an undefeated record in the last seven meetings.

“It’s the way it works: You get injuries in games, and you’ve got to play short-handed, and I just don’t think we played smart enough to handle those right,” Foligno said. “We’ve got to…be more assertive as forwards and get pucks in their end and wear them down so our ‘D’ aren’t feeling under pressure. We just didn’t do that enough.”

On nights like Wednesday, the Hawks desperately need Connor Bedard to take over and cover up their weaknesses, and he wasn’t able to do so.

Bedard attempted seven shots, but only one made it on net, and he committed some puck-management mistakes. The top power-play unit, which largely runs through him no matter what other tweaks the Hawks make, went 0-for-3 to fall to 1-for-33 over the last 12 games.

The long Olympic break could be more beneficial for Bedard than anyone, both as a mental reset and an opportunity to rest his injured shoulder.

Blashill said the plan is for Bedard to resume taking faceoffs again after the break, which would allow the Hawks to separate him and Nazar onto different lines.

“When you’re not taking faceoffs ever, it puts you on the wall a lot, and ultimately he’s a natural centerman,” Blashill said. “I know he’s [been] healthy enough to play, and so at that point, you’re 100% if you’re out there playing. You’ve got to play like you’re 100%.”