Whenever the Chicago Blackhawks seem ready to leave their NHL ghosts behind, they shoot themselves in the foot. Connor Bedard and the Hawks blew a 2-0 lead in the third period, ultimately falling 3-2 in a shootout against Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche, prompting a disheartened reaction from a veteran in the locker room.
Chicago keeps finding new lows to reach during their embarrassing 2024-25 NHL season. Dragging a catastrophic 1-8-1 record over its last ten outings, and having lost four games in a row, there really nothing else left to play for in The Windy City—not even pride.
32-year-old veteran Connor Murphy had a remarkable individual performance at United Center on April 2. Yet, the Blackhawks‘ late collapse overshadowed his statline, which featured a goal and an assist.
Chicago’s 2-0 lead midway through the final period vanished as MacKinnon and the Avs mounted a comeback, forcing overtime after Martin Necas tied the game with just 11 seconds remaining. In the ensuing shootout, Bedard missed his attempt, while MacKinnon and Lehkonen found the net, securing two points for the visiting team.
Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche plays the New York Rangers in the third period at Ball Arena on January 14, 2025 in Denver, Colorado.
The frustrating loss to Colorado prompted a very sincere reaction from Connor Murphy, who voiced a deeply disappointed statement.
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“We feel bad, all the losses that we’re giving [our fans],” Connor Murphy said postgame, via Chicago Sun-Times‘ Ben Pope on X. “Tonight was a full crowd for an 8:50 puck drop in Chicago on a Wednesday night. A lot of people are still cheering us on that we’re still trying to play hard for.“
Putting the game on ice
The Blackhawks squandered yet another late lead in their disappointing NHL season, dropping a valuable point—one that matters more for team morale than for the standings—as they approach the season finale.
The power play had a terrible showing, going 0-for-3 in the night, letting key chances in the third period slip through their fingers, ultimately keeping the Avs alive.
Connor Murphy #5 of the Chicago Blackhawks controls the puck \aa during the third period at the United Center on December 19, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.
“We had some opportunities to make the plays, and they were there. We didn’t execute on them,” Blackhawks interim head coach Anders Sorensen stated postgame.
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Recurring woes
Despite Chicago’s power play ranking 9th in the league with a 24.6% efficiency rate, it has become a headache for Sorensen lately. The Blackhawks have failed to convert on their last nine man-advantage opportunities, with their last power-play goal coming on March 26 against the New Jersey Devils. If these struggles prevail, they must be addressed by whoever steps in as head coach for the upcoming season.
