Chicago Blackhawks: Facing questions after loss to Winnipeg

The Chicago Blackhawks blew a lead to the Winnipeg Jets and now face some questions as they head into a new week with a 5-0 team coming to town.

The Chicago Blackhawks began their Saturday by announcing that they have loaned third overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft Kirby Dach to the Rockford Ice Hogs for a conditioning assignment. He was injured during training camp and has yet to play this season. It is no guarantee that he sticks around this season as the Blackhawks could let him develop more but he may get his chance to prove himself.

Later that night they welcomed the Winnipeg Jets and their potent offense to the United Center. It was a good start for them as they got out to a 2-0 lead over the Jets before it all came crashing down. The Jets slowly but surely were able to make sure the game was tied at two when regulation time expired. The Blackhawks and Jets went to OT where Mark Scheifele would score a beautiful goal off a give and go with Blake Wheeler and Josh Morrissey.

It was a good game for Blackhawks goalie Robin Lehner who made 30 saves on 33 shots and only two goals slipped past him in regulation. It was the best start by a Blackhawks goalie so far this season as Crawford got the start in the first two games and didn’t really play all that great. Now they have to decide how they are going to distribute the work between Lehner and Crawford. Either way, they need good goaltending bad otherwise they aren’t going to win very much.

Now, they are 0-2-1 and need to figure out what it is they need to do in order to get their first win. Once they get that first one they should be able to begin to pile them up. The elusive first one is always one of the hardest and after that, they are going to be okay. The important thing is the right guys are playing well and everyone executes their role. If that happens, they will win more than they lose.

The next game for Chicago is certainly a challenge as the best player in the National Hockey League in Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers are coming to Chicago. They are 5-0 to start the season even though they had minuscule expectations. They have two of the best players in the league, McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but they appear to be on the rise once again. This is a great opportunity for the Hawks to end their losing streak and the Oilers’ winning streak in the same game.