Sliding Chicago falls to 1-5-0 at home, 5-11-0 overall after 3-2 loss to Buffalo. Story with videos.
Right winger Philipp Kurashev had a goal and assist, skating on a retooled top Blackhawks line centered by Connor Bedard against Buffalo on Sunday night.
Lukas Reichel, Chicago's first-round draft pick in 2020, was on the left side of the trio replacing veteran Nick Foligno.
After a slow start, the three young forwards showed signs of clicking. It wasn't nearly enough, however, as Chicago fell to the Sabres 3-2.
The Blackhawks' fourth straight loss dropped them to 5-11-0 overall and 1-5-0 at the United Center.
Connor Bedard in action against Buffalo. Rookie had an assist and two shots on goal.Buffalo defenseman Erik Johnson scored the game-winner from a sharp angle midway through the third period, snapping a 2-all tie. The Sabres' Rasmus Dahlin had a goal and two assists.
Despite a late flurry, Chicago couldn't send it to overtime. Once again, the Blackhawks weren't fully engaged throughout the game.
The 36-year-old Foligno said enough is enough. He thinks the Hawks are a better team than their record.
"We digging a hole here," Foligno said. "We've gotta' find a way out of it because this is awful, this sucks.
"Winning in this league feels good, but it's not pretty. So I think that's where we have to get the mindset of how hard you have to work... the compete you have to have. The sacrifices you have to make sometimes." See the video.
The Blackhawks outshot Buffalo 27-20 and carried the play at times. But Chicago didn't finish chances, beyond Kurashev's second goal in two games — both on rebounds of Bedard shots — and a deflection by Taylor Raddysh.
The 24-year-old Kurashev has four goals and six assists in 10 games since returning from a wrist injury.
Juggled Lines for Chicago
Coach Luke Richardson juggled his lines placing Reichel on Bedard's left side while keeping Kurashev on the right.
Reichel, rated as Chicago's top prospect before this season, needs a boost, too. The 21-year-old German has just one goal and three assists in 16 games.
"We're all three fast players, we want to make plays," Reichel said. "I think we think the same way a little bit." See the video.
Bedard's scoring trajectory has cooled off after the Blackhawks 18-year-old center erupted for four goals and two assists in a pair of games in Florida last weekend.
The NHL's top draft pick of 2023 still leads rookies in scoring with nine goals and 15 points. But Bedard has just two assists in his last three games.
Bedard's numbers on Sunday: One assist; two shots on goals, two shots blocked and one shot missed the net.
Game Recap
Buffalo's Erik Johnson celebrates his game-winning goal.Dahlin gave Buffalo a 1-0 lead 4:53 in when he trailed into the slot and beat Petr Mrazek
Raddysh tied it 1-all at 3:28 of the second, deflecting Kurashev's feed from the right side past Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Jeff Skinner put Buffalo back ahead 2-1 at 10:55, scoring a power-play goal from the left side of the net.
Kurashev tied it at 2 with 3:32 in the second, firing in a rebound of Bedard's shot from the slot. Bedard carried the puck into the Buffalo zone leading a rush. Luukkonen kicked out his shot, but Kurashev was left open on the left side even though the Sabres had three defenders back.
Johnson scored from a sharp angle with 9:24 left in the third period to snap a 2-all tie. Johnson cut in off left wing and lifted a shot over Mrazek's shoulder after the goalie had dropped to his knees.