Not since Connor Bedard had four points at Tampa Bay on Nov. 9 has Chicago won away from the United Center. Punchless Blackhawks are 0-19-1 on road since that 5-3 victory. Updates story with videos.
The Chicago Blackhawks drove to the net and poured on the prime chances against Flames goalie Jacob Markstrom for the first 40 minutes in Calgary on Saturday night.
The Blackhawks finished with a flurry, too.
But once again, injury-depleted Chicago couldn't finish despite a solid, spirited effort. The 6-foot-6 Markstrom stopped all 32 Blackhawks shots, including several breakaways, to blank Chicago 1-0.
The Blackhawks were shut out for second straight game and for the fourth time in their last six. Chicago has scored just 10 goals in its last 10 games, going 2-8-0 during the stretch.
But coach Luke Richardson said his team isn't losing for lack of effort.
"We're proud of the way we're playing," Richardson said. "We're playing the right way, but it's the NHL and we've got to have results." See video:
Team-Record Road Losing Streak
The loss extended the Blackhawks' road losing streak to a team-record 20 games, eclipsing a 19-game slide in 2003-04. Chicago is 0-19-1 away from the United Center since a 5-3 win at Tampa Bay on Nov. 9 when now-injured rookie Connor Bedard had two goals and two assists.
Calgary's Elias Lindholm scored a power-play goal late in the second period. It was the only of 30 Flames shots to get past Blackhawks goalie Petr Mrazek.
Since Bedard sustained a broken jaw on Jan. 5 in New Jersey, the Blackhawks are 3-9-0. Chicago has scored 16 goals while allowing 33 in those 12 games.
In addition to Bedard, the Blackhawks were once again without forwards Taylor Hall (right ACL surgery, out for season), Andreas Athanasiou (groin), Tyler Johnson (right foot) and Anthony Beauvillier (left wrist).
Bedard, still the NHL's leading rookie scorer, has been skating in Chicago. His originally recovery timeline of six to eight weeks hasn't changed.
Game Flow
The Blackhawks came out skating and generating the better chances, including several breakaways.
Markstrom blocked them all, including great stops on Philipp Kurashev and rookie defenseman Isaak Phillips on a flashy end-to-end rush. Boris Katchouck broke in alone short-handed, but lofted a shot wide.
Luka Reichel, Chicago's struggling 2020 first-round draft pick, was moving as well and created a couple of prime looks.
"We've been playing such a strong game as a group overall," forward Taylor Raddysh said. "We've had our shots. We've had our chances. We've had a lot of Grade-A chances that just haven't found the back of the net." See video:
"Right from Petr all the way out, there was no one we were unhappy with their performance tonight," Richardson said. "We just didn't get it over the line."
Lindholm finally opened the scoring during a power-play with 4:05 left in the second period.
Blackhawks defenseman Jarred Tinordi blocked Yegor Sharangovich's shot from the slot with his skate. The puck deflected to Lindholm at the left edge of the crease and he swept it into an open net.
That's all Markstrom needed in his second shutout this season and 20th of his career.