BLOG: Blackhawks ‘Can Learn from Negatives’ in Spilt Weekend in Florida

Over the weekend, the Chicago Blackhawks kicked off their two-game road trip with a victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night. However, the Blackhawks suffered another defeat to the Florida Panthers as the team felt outperformed by their opponent. 

Some positives can be pulled from the Sunday's afternoon matchup with a high performance from Connor Bedard and his four-point contest. But Tyler Johnson noted that the team lost their energy within the defensive zone that showcased in both games. 

“We did that in Tampa, but Florida was a little bit worse, I guess,” Johnson said on Monday. “So, you can take some positives out of it, but you also have to take those negatives and learn from them.”

In the 4-3 loss against the Panthers, Chicago tied the game as they headed into the third period and looked for a chance to regain the lead and a chance to create their first string of wins this season. However, Florida’s power play would strike and take the contest to spilt the record on the Blackhawks’ road trip. 

While the team understands that not every game will be a perfect one, but for Nick Foligno, he described the energy the team needs to produce and learn from their mistakes to present a proper execution in certain plays. 

“Early on the game, we probably didn't deserve to be tied to be honest with the way we played,” Foligno said after the team’s 4-3 loss on Sunday. “Not every game is perfect and if you find yourself in a game where you're 3-3 and you don't have a chance in the third period, you got to find a way.” 

Head coach Luke Richardson also agreed with the veteran forward’s statement especially with the team’s assertiveness when they start the tilts. 

“Our fight is there but I think just the execution on some plays, and then just making sure we start the game with a little bit harder to play against,” Richardson said in Sunday’s postgame.

The struggle that stood out the most to Johnson for the team included the team’s performance on rushes. Whether against the Lightning or Panthers, he felt the two teams exploited them off the rush.

Over the next few games and practices, the team continues to focus on how they can communication better in those types of situations as they go against the Lightning again on Thursday night. 

“We have to do a better job of talking on the way back figuring out who our men are and trying to get some extra help out there,” Johnson said. “That's a learning process, continued to do it in practice and on video and everything but we definitely have to be better at that.”