That's how long it's been since the Chicago Blackhawks won a road game, 5-3 on Nov. 9, 2023 at Tampa Bay. They've lost 19 straight away from the United Center since then.
Connor Bedard's first multi-point game in the NHL was his 12th as a pro. The league's top 2023 draft pick scored two goals and added two assists in the Blackhawks 5-3 victory over the Lightning in Tampa on Nov. 9, 2023.
The Blackhawks haven't won on the road since that night, when they improved to 5-7-0.
Heading into Saturday's game at Calgary, last-place Chicago is 0-18-1 in its last 19 games away from the United Center. That matches a team-record slide set in 2003-04.
The Blackhawks road — and injury — woes started well before Bedard sustained a broken jaw on Jan. 5 in New Jersey on an open-ice hit by Devils defenseman Brendan Smith. The 18-year-old has resumed skating and is now four-weeks into a projected six-to-eight week recovery following surgery.
Coach Luke Richardson has confirmed Bedard's timeline hasn't changed despite the rookie's eagerness. The bone has to heal.
And Chicago also is still without forwards Taylor Hall (right ACL surgery), Andreas Athanasiou (groin), Tyler Johnson (right foot) and Anthony Beauvillier (left wrist). Although the Blackhawks have been grinding, checking hard. limiting chances and getting solid goaltending from Petr Mrazek, they can't score.
Entering Saturday, Chicago has been shut out in three of its past five games, including 3-0 at Edmonton on Thursday. The Blackhawks have just 10 regulation/overtime goals in their last nine games overall, going 2-7-0.
Richardson, haltingly, stops short of saying it's the worst scoring drought he's ever seen.
"Over the years, maybe something like that," Richardson said. "Maybe not the exact numbers.
"We're a banged up club and we've had to pick up some guys to help us through this that maybe aren't used to playing these type of minutes and they're still kind of getting comfortable with our systems as well." See following video.
The Blackhawks have allowed only 25 goals during this most-recent slide. That works out to 2.77 goals per game. Only once has Chicago yielded more than three scores.
Richardson doesn't expect his healthy players to relent on their improved defense and work habits.
"Not if you want to stay in the NHL," Richardson said. "I think that's the motivation." See video.
Downhill Since Bedard's Big Night Against Lightning
Injury-depleted Chicago's health woes started against Tampa Bay, too.
Taylor Hall, the former Hart Trophy winner Chicago acquired to support Bedard, suffered a right ACL tear in the Oct. 9 game and later underwent surgery. Rather than complement Bedard the way he had Nico Hischier in New Jersey in 2017-18, the 32-year-old Hall ended up lost for the season.
It also was the final contest for speedy forward Andreas Athanasiou, who skated just 8:44 again the Lightning before leaving with a groin injury. Athanasiou, one of two returning 20-goal scorers from last year's Blackhawks team, hasn't played since.
Veteran forward Corey Perry was released on Nov. 28 after violating team policies.
Then Chicago's casualty list ballooned to include defensemen Seth Jones (shoulder), Alex Vlasic (concussion and upper-body), Jarred Tinordi (oblique and concussion), as well as forwards Johnson, Beauvillier, Joey Anderson (shoulder), Taylor Raddysh (groin) Nick Foligno (broken finger) and... Bedard.
After Saturday's game, Chicago heads into its bye week and the NHL All-Star break. It doesn't play again until hosting Minnesota on Feb. 7,