RALEIGH, N.C. — Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones deserved the heavy criticism he received a few weeks ago. Now that he has turned his game around — as should be expected from a stellar, if overpaid, player like him — he deserves some praise.
Jones played extremely well again Thursday in the Blackhawks’ 3-2 loss to the Hurricanes, extending his point streak to seven consecutive games — one away from his career high.
“I feel good,” Jones said. “It starts with my breakouts and finding options there, putting guys in good spots. And then it goes to the neutral zone and my game works up from there. [I’m] trying to find plays offensively when I can, but it starts defensively, having a good stick all over the ice and keeping pucks out of my net.”
Since enduring arguably the worst performance of his career Jan. 13 against the Flames — the “infamous Calgary game,” Jones quipped — he has tallied nine points and 15 shots on goal in six games, during which the Hawks have outscored opponents 8-2 during his five-on-five ice time.
“He probably took it personally…what happened there, and he has really elevated his game,” said interim coach Anders Sorensen, who has paired him with fellow veteran Alec Martinez.
Connor Bedard pulled the Hawks within a goal with 13:31 left Thursday after an impressive 100-foot breakout pass from Jones sent him in alone, but they weren’t able to find an equalizer.
Sorensen praised the team for doing “a lot of good things” against a difficult opponent, and they’ve quietly been even or better in five-on-five goals in six of their last seven games now. But those facts don’t make their 16-30-5 overall record look any prettier.
Dach’s strides
Hawks rookie forward Colton Dach was talking with his parents last weekend, simply updating them on his schedule for this week, when it dawned on him how surreal this is.
“I was like, ‘Oh, I’m going to Tampa, I’m going to Carolina, I’m going to Florida,'” Dach said. “It’s a little different than being in Rockford. I’m trying not to take any day for granted.”
Sorensen scratched Dach for the first time this season in Tampa, however, calling on him to “have a little more presence, physicality-wise.” Dach heard that message loud and clear.
“[It’s about] making sure I’m getting three hard strides everywhere I’m going, getting a good stick on pucks and finishing through the body,” Dach said. “That’s my game [as] a power forward, and that’s what I’ve got to do to stay in the lineup.”
He played 12:09 on Thursday and recorded three hits, upping his total to 38 hits in his first 12 NHL appearances — the highest rate on the team, just ahead of Nick Foligno.
Notes
Seth Jarvis got the Hurricanes on the board with a shorthanded goal. The Hawks have now allowed three shorthanded goals in their last eight games and six total this season, tied for third-most in the NHL.
Rookie forward Frank Nazar had a rough night, struggling to make decisions fast enough to get rid of the puck before the ultra-aggressive Hurricanes got to him. Sorensen called it a “good moment to understand…how quickly space closes.”