NEW YORK — The Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers competed in Friday night hockey at Madison Square Garden. Both teams arrived with benefits to winning and losing.
A win is a win, something the pair of Original Six teams are looking to consistently do in the future. Adding to the loss column increased the chances of getting the top pick in the NHL draft.
The Hawks and Rangers entered the world-famous arena as two of the bottom three teams in the league. The Vancouver Canucks — who sit 17 points behind both — are comfortably at No. 32.
If the second period told Hawks fans in Manhattan anything, it’s that they may need those better odds badly. On the contrary, Rangers fans may be asking themselves if their team snapped its six-game losing streak at the worst time.
Mission accomplished for the Hawks — sort of.
The Hawks fell to the Rangers 6-1 for their second straight blowout loss and sixth defeat in eight games. The road team sits 31st in the NHL standings, which would give them the second-best odds for the No.1 pick come the draft lottery.
That’s what spectators see, at least. The Hawks lost by a combined 11-2 on Thursday and Friday and have allowed 14 goals in the last three games.
Hawks players earlier this season said they want to win now rather than later. As the exhausted team limps to Newark, N.J., on Sunday for the finale of a four-game trip against the Devils, they likely will have to wait an offseason longer.
“I don’t know if it’s just such a young team (or) immaturity and we can’t put it together, but it’s on everyone,” alternate captain Tyler Bertuzzi said. “As a group, everyone (in) the last few games, we have not been good at all.”
The teams were were tied at one after 20 minutes following goals from the Hawks Nick Lardis at 17:34 and Rangers center J.T. Miller at 18:32. It was Lardis’s fifth point in five games.
“He’s been really good, he battles hard for a smaller guy,” Bertuzzi said of his linemate. “He’s physical and he gets in on the forecheck.”
In the second period, the Hawks showed why they’re in play to lead off the draft. The Rangers peppered goalie Arvid Söderblom with three goals while the Hawks only had four shots.
The Hawks’ great stickwork that was present in the first disappeared in the second, and the Rangers pushed the road team around for the remaining 40 minutes.
“I felt like we tried to change up our style of play, I thought we had success in the first keeping it simple, getting pucks in and playing a simple brand of hockey,” defenseman Alex Vlasic said. “For whatever reason, we got away from that, and they were able to capitalize on our mistakes.”
They’re still growing as the season’s end inches closer. An intimidation factor would be helpful, as opponents don’t seem phased by the youngest roster in the league.
Rangers left winger Conor Sheary cross-checked Artyom Levshunov early in the third period. Levshunov also took a hit from Miller, who drove the Hawks defenseman hard into the boards.
The Hawks’ response to the hit — or lack thereof — was telling of the team’s overall morale and where they are in building that tough identity. They didn’t score on that power play or either of their two others.
In hindsight, Vlasic would’ve done more in the moment.
“I checked over my shoulder, the ref had his arm up so (I) saw we had a power play,” Vlasic said. “Looking back, I wish I did step in and do something there.
“I thought maybe we’d get one on the power play, it’s a 4-2 game with 10 minutes left and we have a chance to win. It’s easy to say, looking back now.”
Sacha Boisvert, who made his NHL debut in a 5-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, dropped his gloves with Rangers defenseman Will Borgen in the waning minutes of regulation. Boisvert has nine penalty minutes in two games.
With three former captains elsewhere, the Hawks are tasked with stepping up through tough stretches. It’s a win-or-learn mentality for Blashill and his team.
“This will be a good test for us here after two tough ones, we had a big win (in Long) Island and then responded with these two games,” Blashill said. “I think we’ve played pretty good hockey through most of that stretch after the trade deadline. Now we’ve got to regroup.”
The coach admitted the Hawks are fatigued, as they struggle to find time to practice and build chemistry with the condensed schedule because of the Olympic break. In his eyes, it’s something the team has to endure to grow.
“We have a whole bunch of guys going through the NHL schedule for the first time, much less this condensed schedule,” Blashill said. “It’s a hard challenge for a group that’s young as we are, but we’ve got to respond to the challenge.”