Defenseman Seth Jones picked the right time to score his first goal of the season: a game-winning goal in the Blackhawks’ 4-3 overtime win against the Islanders.
The Hawks responded with more urgency against the Islanders after Thursday’s listless loss.
“It’s nice to know I remember how to score,” Jones said. “I was in shock like, ‘Wow, that actually went in the back of the net?’ It’s a great feeling.”
The four goals the Hawks scored were their most since Jan. 7. Jones said forward Jason Dickinson has been the “engine” for the team on both sides of the puck.
After Dickinson’s goal to give the Hawks a two-goal lead in the third period, the Hawks surrendered two goals and allowed the Islanders to get right back into the game.
“Something to address that we have to clean up,” Dickinson said. “It’s a real thing, momentum swings. The stronger we can come out after a goal for a couple of minutes, the more it’s going to beat the other team down.”
The Hawks hope to create some momentum as they embark on a four-game road trip.
“I thought we played hard, but there was a little difference in desperation I thought from tonight than last game,” coach Luke Richardson said. “Hopefully, we can see that as a team and just continue to push forward. We only have four games left, so we got to empty the tank here.
Fast starts
The Hawks know they don’t have wunderkind Connor Bedard or or former Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall. But despite their absences, the games continue. Richardson acknowledged that it’s the dog days of the season but also said that his team has to get off to better starts.
“It’s middle-of-January games, it’s cold outside, it’s a lot of games that we’ve played, and there’s a lot of games to go,” Richardson said. “You’ve just got to shake yourself out and get into a game. And I think once we got into the game, the last couple of games, we’ve been battling well.”
The Hawks — already undermanned — have to get off to better starts to remain competitive in games. In their past five games, the Hawks have scored three first-period goals.
The onus is also on the players to motivate themselves.
“In professional hockey, if you can’t get up for yourself for a game and your teammates, then you’re probably not going to be here long,” Richardson said. “If Coach goes in ranting and raving one game to try and create the atmosphere for the team, how long is that going to last in 82 games? It’s probably not going to last very long, and the players will be gone, and so will the coach.”
Injury update
Forward Ryan Donato is still dealing with an illness and missed his second consecutive game. Richardson said he tried to give it a go, but “he didn’t have enough strength to play tonight.” Defenseman Connor Murphy (lower body) missed his third consecutive game and is considered day-to-day.
Richardson said forward Nick Foligno will practice with the team on Saturday and that he’ll come on the Hawks’ upcoming road trip.