Colin Blackwell had two goals and assist, and the injury-decimated Chicago Blackhawks edged the Calgary Flames 4-3 on Sunday to end a five-game losing streak. Philipp Kurashev and Nikita Zaitsev connected 2:40 apart late in the second period for the Blackhawks, who won without injured NHL rookie scoring leader Connor Bedard and eight other regulars. Petr Mrazek made 28 saves. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAzNDY4NjA3ODg2MjA2Nzcy/usatsi_22242328_168401008_lowres.jpg] Petr Mrazek made 28 saves. Petr Mrazek stopped 28 shots to help last-place Chicago win for just the third time in 14 games (3-10-1). The 30-year-old Blackwell matched his career high with three points. He missed on a chance for an empty-net goal, and his first hat trick, with about a minute left. The downtrodden Blackhawks needed this one. "Yeah, big time," defenseman Connor Murphy said. "Confidence and belief I think for everyone to understand that no matter who's in the lineup, we still are a good enough team to win any game." And Chicago gutted it out with no new injuries. The Blackhawks lost five players, including Bedard to a fractured jaw, over their five previous games. See video from coach Luke Richardson. Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson glad with 4-3 win over Flames... and no new injuries for his team's that's without Connor Bedard plus eight players. BEDARD UPDATE Connor Bedard skated into the Devils zone in New Jersey on Friday night before leaving the game with an injury. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAzNDI3NjQ3MzE5OTc1NzMy/usatsi_22229984_168401008_lowres.jpg] Connor Bedard skated into the Devils zone in New Jersey on Friday night before leaving the game with an injury. Before the game, coach Luke Richardson said he didn't have a timeline for the treatment and recovery of Bedard and veteran Nick Foligno. Bedard is out indefinitely, likely for weeks, with the fractured jaw. Foligno has a broken finger on his left hand. Both were injured in New Jersey on Friday. Bedard has 15 goals and 33 assists in 39 games. The NHL's top draft pick of 2023, the 18-year-old phenom became the youngest player named to the league's All-Star Game on Thursday. Heading into Sunday, Chicago was without eight injured forwards — Bedard, Foligno, Taylor Hall (right ACL surgery, season), Tyler Johnson (foot), Andreas Athanasiou (groin), Taylor Raddysh (groin), Anthony Beauvillier (left wrist) and Joey Anderson (lower body). Top defenseman Seth Jones (shoulder), out since Dec. 10, has resumed skating. BLACKWELL IS BACK WITH "PEP IN STEP" Blackwell delivered another visible, high-energy effort in his 10th game since undergoing hernia surgery last March, then returning on Dec. 19. He has three goals in his last three contests. The stocky Blackwell, a journeyman drafted in the seventh-round in 2011 by San Jose, says he's often felt overlooked as a pro after four collegiate seasons at Harvard. At the the same time, the North Andover, Massachusetts native, says he's not taking opportunities in the NHL for granted after his injury shut him down from hockey and made daily activities tough for months. Colin Blackwell (second from left) celebrates his second goal on Sunday. USA Today Network, Daniel Bartel [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAzNDcwMjIyNzkzOTEwMDY4/usatsi_22243466_168401008_lowres.jpg] Colin Blackwell (second from left) celebrates his second goal on Sunday. USA Today Network, Daniel Bartel "I've always played like this, but I'm 30 years-old and a lot of people haven't really given me the time of day my whole career," said Blackwell, who has 30 goals and 37 career assists in 201 regular-season NHL games with five NHL teams. "I play with a chip on my shoulder and I recognize that, you know, I'm trying to fight for a spot on this team. "And also just trying to make up for some lost time," he added. "I don't take the game for granted. I never really did, but when you miss a lot of time, you've got a little extra pep in your step." See following video. Blackhawks forward Colin Blackwell is upbeat after two goals and an assist in a win another high-energy game. Blackwell rifled a shot into the upper-right corner of the net from the left circle to open the scoring 4:32 into the first period. The forward broke into the zone after taking Jarred Tinordi's long pass up the left side, stopped and connected after turning Calgary defenseman Nick DeSimone around. Goals by Nazem Kadri and Andrew Mangiapane put the Flames ahead 2-1. Mangiapane scored on the power-play at 3:26 of the second from a sharp angle when his shot ticked in off Murphy's stick. Kurashev tied it 2-all at 12:09 of the second. He grabbed a loose puck just on the right side of the slot, turned and fired it between Dan Vladar's pads. Zaitsev put Chicago ahead 3-2 at 14:49 on shot off right wing that deflected in off DeSimone's skate. Blackwell's power-play goal with 5:23 left in the the third upped Chicago's lead to 4-2. Kadri's second goal of the game, from a sharp angle 42 seconds later, complete the scoring. CHICAGO NEWCOMERS Forward Zach Sanford, claimed off waivers from the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday, played 13:42. Forward Rem Pitlick, acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in a trade on Saturday, didn't make it to the game because of weather-related travel delays.
