In Chicago, all the good feelings the Blackhawks have generated since firing their old coach and adding Derek King as bench evaporated in a 2-0 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Sunday night.
James Reimer made 29 saves for the shutout victory.
“We had a game plan that we didn’t stick to in the first period, came out a little bit flat and weren’t winning enough battles, but our compete in the second and third was much better,” the Sharks’ Mario Ferraro said. “We’re the kind of team, we have to play physical, we have to play hard, so if we take a period off it’s going to hurt us. So, ‘Reims’ kept us in there for sure.”
San Jose improved to 11-9-1.
“It’s important that we’re not digging ourselves into a hole at the beginning of a trip, so tonight it was great to get the two points,” San Jose head coach Bob Boughner said.
Timo Meier s scored both goals for the Sharks.
“I was just standing in front and it hit me,” Meier said of his first goal. “I didn’t try to tip it. I was just trying to take the goalie’s eyes away. It was a big goal for the team.”
The Blackhawks have lost three of their last five games.
“First period, I thought we were all over them,” Chicago head coach Derek King said. “Second period, we kind of changed the way we wanted to play, and it cost us a little bit. We spent too much time in our zone. Third period, I thought we turned it around. And for the most part, I think that’s one of the best games we’ve played all year.”
Chicago dropped to 7-12-2.
The Blackhawks were scoreless in two power play chances and 0-for-13 in their last six games.
“It’s just amazing, you know, especially going through training camp and the beginning of this season, we were so confident, so comfortable on the power play,” Chicago’s Patrick Kane said. “It’s one of those stretches where, I think, we had chances before and we didn’t score. Then all of a sudden you get one, two power plays a game, you kind of get out of rhythm and you don’t do your job when it comes up.
“Hopefully we can get it going again and get that confidence like we had at the beginning of the season.”
Meier’s empty-net goal came with 91 seconds left on the clock in the third for the 2-0 final.
“I wasn’t happy with how we were playing in the defensive zone,” Boughner said. “[Reimer was] obviously our best player, the reason we got out of the first period 0-0.”
Marc-Andre Fleury took the loss with 20 saves.
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