Bedard-less Chicago grinds out hard-checking, hard-working effort, but is shut out for third time in five games in 3-0 loss.
The Chicago Blackhawks churned out a straight-line, hard-checking effort against the surging Oilers in Edmonton on Thursday.
The Blackhawks checked hard, but couldn't contain Connor McDavid (97).But even combined with another solid start by goalie Petr Mrazek, it wasn't enough for injury-depleted Chicago. Once again, the Blackhawks lacked enough offensive skill and finish near the net in a 3-0 loss.
The Blackhawks dropped their 19th straight road game, an 0-18-1 skid that matches a team-record slide in 2003-04. Chicago was shut out for the third time in five games.
McDavid Puts Oilers on Top
Connor McDavid got the better of Jason Dickinson (16) and the Blackhawks.Connor McDavid led the Oilers with two goals and an assist. Leon Draisaitl assisted on all three Edmonton scores.
Backup Calvin Pickard made 27 saves to backstop Edmonton to its 15th straight win, extending the record for a Canadian NHL team.
McDavid scored a power-play goal 1:37 into second period, then set up Zach Hyman's team-leading 29th score to cap a 2-on-1 at 6:34 of the third. McDavid added an empty-netter to seal it.
Chicago Can't Finish, Again.
Chicago hasn't won away from the United Center since a 5-3 victory at Tampa Bay on Nov. 9, 2023 when injured NHL leading rookie scorer Connor Bedard posted two goals and two assists.
Pickard's shutout was his first this season and fifth in his career. It extended the Oilers' team-record run of allowing two or fewer goals to 13 games.
Among Pickard's stops: A pad save on Chicago's MacKenzie Entwistle's first NHL penalty shot with 1:36 remaining in the second period.
Entwistle was awarded the chance after blocking a shot by Edmonton's Vincent Desharnais, then racing down the ice and being held up by the Edmonton defenseman.
Edmonton's Zach Hyman scored his 29th goal, one of two for the Oilers against Petr Mrazek on Thursday.It seemed like a borderline call that might have resulted in a hooking or holding penalty. Entwistle closed in on the penalty shot, then was stopped by Pickard as the goalie dropped to the ice.
Entwistle had an upbeat game with four prime chances.
"The most frustrating part is we're in the games, but we can't finish and find a way to get the job done," Entwistle said. "It just a matter of bearing down on your chances.
"I had a breakaway. I had penalty shot. I had two glorious chances in front of the net and didn’t score."
Bedard, who suffered a broken jaw on Jan. 5 at New Jersey, is one of five Chicago forwards on injured reserve. Taylor Hall (right ACL surgery) Tyler Johnson (right foot), Andreas Athanasiou (groin) and Anthony Beauvillier (left wrist) are the others.
Mrazek Solid Again
Mrazek made 31 saves in his first game since signing a two-year contract extension. His new deal runs through 2025-26 and pays $4.25 annually.
Healthy after two years of battling a groin injury, the 31-year-old Mrazek has emerged as Chicago's No. 1 goalie with a 12-18-1 record, 2.98 goals-against average and .908 save percentage in 33 games this season.
Entering Thursday, the Czech netminder's save percentage ranked sixth among all goalies who have played in 32 or more games. His goals-against was eighth.
Mrazek has been terrific lately. In eight starts since Bedard suffered his broken jaw, Mrazek is 3-5-0 with a 2.14 GAA and .927 save percentage.
Scoring Flow
McDavid was wide open on the left side, then fired into an open net 1:37 into the second period on a power-play. He took a cross ice pass from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins after Mrazek had slid out to cover him.
McDavid made a perfect pass to a driving Hyman at the edge of the crease to make it 2-0 at 6:34 of the third. McDavid iced it his 19th goal, into an empty-net goal with 1:15 left.