Playing their first game in two weeks because of a COVID-19 pause, the Chicago Blackhawks gave up three first-period goals — the first 62 seconds into the game — and lost to the Predators, 6-1, on Saturday in Nashville, Tenn.
It was a shaky season debut for Hawks goalie Collin Delia, who started with Marc-André Fleury and Kevin Lankinen in COVID-19 protocols. Delia gave up the first three goals, including Filip Forsberg’s wrister 1:02 into the game. The Predators’ three scores in the period came despite the Hawks outshooting them 15-7.
Arvid Söderblom relieved Delia to start the second — marking Söderblom’s NHL debut — and Tanner Jeannot welcomed him to the league with a goal 28 seconds into the period.
But the story was less about goalies and more about a Hawks team playing its first game since Dec. 18 because of a temporary leaguewide shutdown to try to control a COVID-19 outbreak. They looked as rusty and sluggish as you would expect for a team coming back from the layoff.
The Predators had a post-Christmas head start with games against the Washington Capitals and Columbus Blue Jackets last weekend, but the Hawks helped the hosts with turnovers and puck watching.
The Hawks have talked about starting fast, starting “on time,” but did just the opposite at the beginning of each period. Forsberg’s goal set the tone.
Mattias Ekholm intercepted Henrik Borgstrom’s pass to Patrick Kane and turned it back up the ice.
On Ryan Johansen’s goal later in the first, Forsberg picked off Erik Gustafsson, then found a wide-open Johansen, who tucked the puck around an outstretched Delia. Nick Cousins scored a power-play goal in the final minute of the first to make it 3-0.
Tanner Jeannot scored 28 seconds into the second period and 53 seconds into the third.
The Hawks initially stifled the rush but allowed Jeannot to get ahead of the defense as a trailer and roof it on a sharp angle past Soderblom off Colton Sissons’ feed.
Sissons and Roman Josi, who scored in the second, returned from the COVID-19 protocols for the first time since the Preds’ 3-2 win over the Hawks on Dec. 17 at the United Center.
The Blackhawks’ special teams woes carried into the new year. They spent extra time in practice working out the kinks of their penalty kill but gave up two goals on three Predators power-play opportunities.
Meanwhile, the Hawks went 0 for 4 on the power play.
The Hawks outshot the Predators 38-25, but the Preds had the edge in high-danger chances at 7-6.
Philipp Kurashev had the Hawks’ lone goal.
