LAS VEGAS — It doesn’t make sense why the Blackhawks are dressing defenseman T.J. Brodie as often as they are, and Brodie demonstrated exactly why it doesn’t make sense in the first minute Thursday.
Brodie failed to control the puck not once but twice on clearing attempts after a defensive-zone faceoff win, and the Golden Knights immediately capitalized with the game’s opening goal.
That began a defensive disaster of a first period that dug the Hawks a deep hole. After pulling starting goalie Petr Mrazek, they rallied but ultimately fell short in a wacky 7-5 loss, their fourth straight since the international break.
“Scoring chances were actually even after the first [period] and we’re down 5-1, [so] say what you want about that,” interim coach Anders Sorensen said. “Obviously, we had a little push [and] turned the tide a little bit. But [we] gave up too much.
“We can’t wait to be down 5-1 to play with urgency, right? The urgency has to be there from the get-go.”
Back in late January, Brodie — who has struggled most of the season — seemed to be potentially falling out of the Hawks’ lineup for good, but that didn’t end up happening.
In the four games since the break, Brodie and rookie defensemen Ethan Del Mastro and Nolan Allan have rotated on the third pairing, with Brodie and Del Mastro each making three appearances compared to Allan’s two.
From a future-looking development standpoint, it would be more logical to let Del Mastro and Allan ride the waves on a nightly basis.
And from a current performance standpoint, that would probably be more logical, too. Hardly a game goes by in which Brodie doesn’t commit at least one costly turnover. The Knights outshot the Hawks 10-1 during his five-on-five ice time Thursday.
“He’s pressing a little bit,” Sorensen said. “He’s been in and out of the lineup a little bit. He knows that he hasn’t played well. We’ve talked about it. I think you put extra weight on your own shoulders at times, and it goes the wrong way.”
Youth rally
The Hawks’ young players produced some bright spots Thursday, helping the league’s 31st-place team bury five goals against the playoffs-bound Knights for the second time in as many meetings this season.
Colton Dach scored his second career goal with a subtle deflection, Ethan Del Mastro scored his first with an impressive shot and Frank Nazar — whose speed and determination made him arguably the Hawks’ best player during the final 40 minutes — tallied two assists.
Craig Smith set up Philipp Kurashev to pull the Hawks within 6-5 with 10 minutes to play, but then a fluky Knights goal went in off Seth Jones’ skate and killed the rally.
The Hawks were annoyed they never got a power-play opportunity while the Knights received three. They felt they were owed one, especially in the third period.
“It felt like one was coming,” Connor Murphy said. “We were outplaying [them] and had them a little more on their heels. Usually that’s when one of those little stick slashes or hooks ended up being called. So it would have been nice to see that happen to us — to get a good look to tie it — because you could really feel the momentum was our way.”
Nick Foligno left in the first period and did not return due to a lower-body injury. Sorensen said he’s considered day-to-day for now.
Connor Bedard was held without a point for the fourth consecutive game.