Updated: Friday, Jan. 6 at 10:52 p.m.
Coach Joel Quenneville felt the Blackhawks shouldve gotten at least a point out of their game in Philadephia on Thursday night. He didnt see them deserving even that on Friday.
David Jones tip-in proved to be the game-winner, as the Colorado Avalanche blanked the Blackhawks 4-0 at the United Center. It was the Blackhawks third consecutive loss and fourth in their last five games. It was also the fifth time this season theyve been shut out.
The Blackhawks were facing a rested and confident Avalanche, who have now won nine of their last 10. It showed from the blue line to the net, where Semyon Varlamov stopped all 27 shots for his second shutout this season.
Last night we couldveshouldve got a point. Tonight we didnt deserve anything, Quenneville said. We got what we deserved.
The Blackhawks didnt have much jump from the outset. Perhaps it was an after effect of their physical game in Philadelphia on Thursday. But they werent using that as an excuse.
It seemed like we were a step behind the whole game. I dont know why, Duncan Keith said. Especially in games like this, back to back, we need to rely on our team game. For whatever reason tonight, it wasnt very good.
NHL
The Blackhawks struggled defensively on one end -- Nick Leddy had a particularly rough night -- as the Avalanche pounced on miscues and open chances. They were shut down offensively on the other end, too. The Blackhawks had their chances, but they also had plenty of one-and-done opportunities.
We didnt generate enough, Quenneville said. We had some quality chances. It wouldve been nice to get one and see what wouldve happened.
Defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson said it was not a good game at all. We just got outworked basically. We have to do better and try to get more bodies at the net, get the puck deep and go to work. Weve been struggling with that the last couple of games and thats why were not winning.
The Blackhawks were winning in December with that team game Keith talked about on Friday night. As the calendar has turned, so has their game. On Sunday theyll face the Detroit Red Wings, against whom they had one of those stellar across-the-board performances last time. Theyll need that again, and they need to keep it going like they did in December.
The last three games we havent been consistent at all, Hjalmarsson said. A couple guys (have) a good game and in another game a couple other guys are good. We just have to be on top, the whole team, when the game starts.