Penguins Scalped by Blackhawks, 3-1

With so many players auditioning for spots next season, effort and compete level have for the most part not been an issue for our Penguins since the trade deadline passed a month ago. Indeed, with the notable exception of back-to-back blowout losses to the Lightning and Sabres, the Pens have emptied their energy stores on a nightly basis.

As for yesterday’s 3-1 loss to the Blackhawks at the United Center?

Maybe not so much.

The Pens did manage to keep pace with their hosts for the first 40 minutes, even holding a slight statistical advantage, before the wheels literally fell off during the third period. Understandable in a way, given that we’d played an emotionally charged game in Dallas the day before while the Hawks were well-rested.

But enough framing.

The Hawks broke a scoreless tie 65 seconds before the second intermission on a shorthanded goal by Frank Nazar. At his lackadaisical (or out of gas) worst, Erik Karlsson failed to slow the Hawks’ forward along the wall and didn’t exactly break the sweat equity bank getting back into the play, leading to a 2-on-1 against.

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