If the NHL allowed its TV partners to flex out bad matchups like the NFL does, the Blackhawks would certainly be bumped out of most of their remaining national broadcasts.
After a lifeless 6-2 home loss Sunday against the Rangers, the Hawks are not only 13-25-2 overall this season — worst in the league — but also 0-7-0 on national TV. Dating back to October 2023, they've lost a whopping 15 consecutive games that aired on either TNT, ESPN or ABC.
They've been blown out by four-goal margins in four of their last five games, and all four blowout losses were available for hockey fans across the country to enjoy — or rather endure. The one win (Friday against the Canadiens) was the lone local-TV broadcast during that stretch, not that many locals are capable of or interested in watching Chicago Sports Network at the moment.
"It's just a lot of different dominoes that don't go our way," defenseman Wyatt Kaiser said. "[We're] still trying to figure it out."
Unfortunately, the NHL doesn't allow TV flexing, and the Hawks still have six more national broadcasts left in the schedule — including their next game Wednesday against the Avalanche (on TNT), which will also mark the merciful midpoint of the season.
The Hawks yet again scored first Sunday when Connor Bedard found Tyler Bertuzzi for his team-leading 14th goal. The Hawks continue to lead the league in 1-0 leads, having scored first in 25 of 40 games.
But things predictably fell apart soon after that, proving their victory Friday wasn't a sign of any sustainable improvements. The Rangers, who have been more dysfunctional off-ice and nearly as inept on-ice as the Hawks this season, led 2-1 by the first intermission and 5-1 by late in the second period.
"Our puck management was not good at all — unacceptable," interim coach Anders Sorensen said. "Then we get stuck in our own zone because we’re tired and we can’t get out. ... Nothing good comes out of that."
Connor Bedard's assist Sunday stretched his point streak to seven consecutive games, the longest of his young career. The streak hasn't gotten a lot of attention — because the Hawks are 1-6-0 in the seven games and Bedard hasn't been dominant by any means — but it's a positive stat nonetheless.
Bertuzzi's finishing skills in dirty areas around the net have enabled it. Bedard's six assists during this hot stretch have all been on Bertuzzi goals. Bedard has also scored three times himself.
"As we play [together] more, we know where each other is going to be," Bertuzzi said. "I’ve just got to find open ice, and I know he’s going to make good plays."
Sorensen promoted prospect forward Colton Dach onto their line halfway through Sunday, rewarding Dach for skating hard during his first NHL weekend.
Kaiser finally scored his first NHL goal Sunday in his 71st career game and on his 155th career shot attempt. He chuckled about the wait finally being over: "There's been a lot of posts."
Goalie Arvid Soderblom had an opportunity to take over the "1A" goalie position with another strong start Sunday, but that's not what played out. He saved 28 of 34 shots.
Like most other Hawks who recently returned from injury absences, veteran forward Craig Smith has been rusty since coming back for the Winter Classic. He committed an awful turnover that led to the Rangers' second goal.
