INSTANT ANALYSIS: Second-Period Lapse Stifles Defensively Sound Game

The Blackhawks played another low-scoring affair on Sunday night in a game that held a 1-0 scoreline until the final minutes of play with an empty net in Chicago's end, eventially falling in a 2-0 final to the San Jose Sharks at the United Center.
Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 20 of the 21 shots he faced on the evening as the Blackhawks held defensively for the majority of play, cedeing one chance to the Sharks off a tip in front that proved the difference.

POSTGAME LINKS
GAMECENTER: CHI vs. SJ
RECAP: Blackhawks Shutout by Sharks
LONG READ: Troy Murray - Blackhawk Through and Through
HIGHLIGHTS: CHI vs. SJ
GALLERY: Hockey Fights Cancer Night at the UC
INSIDER: Flower-Powered Episode with Fleury

DENYING LOOKS

Dating back to Friday's overtime win over St. Louis, the Blackhawks have held an opponent to single-digit shot totals in four of their last five periods of regulation action.
Against the Blues, it was the second and third periods, with six and two shots allowed, respectively, that proved the difference in the multi-goal comeback victory. On Sunday against San Jose, Chicago stifled the Sharks offense in the first and third periods, with four and three shots allowed, respectively.
The difference, though, proved the be a second period push from the visitors that Chicago couldn't contain well enough, allowing 15 shots and a Timo Meier tip in front for the eventual game-winner.
"First period I thought we were all over them. I thought we did a good job of managing the puck through the neutral zone because that's what they do," interim coach Derek King said. "The second period we kind of changed the way we wanted to play and it cost us a little bit. We spent too much time in (our) zone. Third period I thought we turned it around and for the most part, I think that's one of the best games we've played all year.
It's a tough result to swallow given the scoreline, but the pieces are there for the team to continue building from their own net out. The Blackhawks now just need to find their scoring touch again to complete the defensive progress in recent weeks and not try to overextend themselves looking for offense.
"When you're going through a goal slump and you come up against teams like that that trap it up in the neutral zone and clog things up, you just have to be patient," King said. "You can't force the issue. The only time we got in trouble was when we were forcing the issue... They kept the ice tilted until we went back to the way we were playing in the first."
"Kinger tells us just to stick with it, not get discouraged and kind of pull away from the reasons why we're able to have that momentum," defenseman Connor Murphy said. "As it got towards the end or even the second period and we got frustrated, we started to try and force plays laterally instead of keeping it forward and keeping on top of them."

TRAFFIC JAM

The Sharks did their part defensively on the night, blocking 32 Blackhawk shots on the night -- a single-game high all season in the NHL.
"They did a good job defensively tonight," Patrick Kane said, "not just blocking shots but also getting pressure on the puck, keeping us to the outside, so you've got to give them credit."
"I think especially at the end as we started to get desperate. We were trying to shoot everything from up high, whether it was our forwards climbing high or our D-men," Murphy said. "Their D weren't boxing out in front of their net as much, they were stepping in front of everything. You could tell that that's what they wanted to do. They had a game plan to play tight defensively after they got one goal."
The previous high a Blackhawks opponent has had in blocks this season was 19 by the New York Islanders in the home opener on Oct. 19 and by the Detroit Red Wings a few days later on Oct. 24.

A NIGHT BIGGER THAN HOCKEY

Regardless of the result, it was a great night at the United Center as Troy Murray returned amongst the Hockey Fights Cancer festivities throughout the evening. The former centerman and radio broadcaster has largely spent the season away from the organization to focus on his battle with cancer, but was on the ice pregame alongside 15-year-old Devin Pittges for a ceremonial puck drop and then dropped into the radio and TV booths upstairs during the first intermission.
"It was great," Kane said of seeing Murray. "He's obviously been around for the whole time I've been here and just a fun guy to see in the locker room and talk to about hockey and just life in general. Always got a smile on his face, positive attitude. You could see him out there tonight, he's just smiling, happy and seemed like he was grateful to be out there. It was great to see him."
"I wish we were able to get a win for him. We said it before the game, we were playing for him and for everyone battling, present and past," Murphy added "It's an emotional night seeing everyone out here supporting him, supporting everyone with their signs, who they're fighting for. It's just a great thing that he was able to come out today. He's been in our prayers for months now and it's really awesome to see his face."