NHL: Blackhawks, Canucks aspire to more than playing out string

With the final Western Conference playoff spot out of reach, the Chicago Blackhawks and Vancouver Canucks are focused on maintaining fight and finding success in the final stretch of the season.

The Blackhawks, coming off a rough road trip, aim to hand the struggling Canucks their eighth consecutive loss on Friday night. Chicago needs just six more points to surpass last season’s total of 61 but looks set to miss the playoffs for the sixth straight year.

The Blackhawks started their recent five-game road stretch with three straight losses before earning a 4-0 win at Utah on Sunday. However, they gave up a late one-goal lead in a 3-2 overtime loss to Winnipeg on Tuesday. Chicago currently has a minus-11 goal differential in the third period and has lost its last six games decided by two or fewer goals.

“We’ve definitely been in a lot of tight games,” Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill said. “Sometimes it’s about finding that next goal. You’ve got to find a way to win the hockey game.”

Teuvo Teravainen has scored three of his 13 goals in the last two games, while star teammate Connor Bedard has nine points (five goals, four assists) in his last nine contests. Bedard has recorded two points in two games against Vancouver this season, including a goal and an assist in Chicago’s 5-2 victory at Vancouver on Nov. 5.

Both teams are also losing veterans as general managers focus on the future. Chicago traded defenseman Connor Murphy and forwards Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach to Edmonton this week, while Vancouver sent veteran defenseman Tyler Myers to Dallas on Wednesday.

The Canucks, with an NHL-low 43 points, remain determined to compete. “You can lose games, but you’ve got to play the right way and compete,” Vancouver GM Patrik Allvin said. “That’s what I want to see from my group moving forward.”

Vancouver fell 6-4 to Carolina on Wednesday after surrendering four goals in the second period, despite an early 2-1 lead. The Canucks have posted a 3-19-4 record since Dec. 22 and allowed at least five goals in five of their last six games. Defenseman Filip Hronek, who had a goal and two assists against the Hurricanes, said, “The effort was there. We have to be consistent with this and maintain that effort for 60 minutes.”

In goal, ex-Blackhawk Kevin Lankinen was pulled after allowing four goals on 22 shots Wednesday. He has given up 19 goals during a four-start losing streak. Nikita Tolopilo has made at least 31 saves in three of his last four starts but has just one win. Chicago’s Spencer Knight has lost four straight starts and allowed at least three goals in eight of his last nine outings, though he stopped 73 of 77 shots in two games against Vancouver this season.

Backup Arvid Soderblom could return for the Blackhawks after earning his first shutout Sunday with 22 saves. Vancouver’s Marco Rossi snapped a five-game point drought with a goal and an assist Wednesday and has a point in three straight games versus Chicago.

-Field Level Media/Reuters