INSTANT ANALYSIS: Trailing First, Lack of 5-on-5 Scoring Continues Early

On Thursday night, the Blackhawks were left again praising positive portions of the game despite the overall result not showing, dropping a 4-1 result to the Vancouver Canucks at the United Center.
"We've just got to keep going. Disappointing, obviously, but we need to win one game and I think we can build some momentum from there," head coach Jeremy Colliton said. "We've got to find a way to break through. I don't think we played poorly, I don't think we played great, but we played solid."
"Frustrating, but we can't feel sorry for ourselves. Got to find a way to dig ourselves out of a hole," said Patrick Kane, who was honored pregame for his 1,000-game milestone last season. "Obviously we've got two days in between (games) to rest up now and try to keep building on where we are as a team, how we're playing and keep getting better and better because I think when we get it, we have stretches in the game where we're pretty dialed in. Got to try to do that more consistently."

POSTGAME LINKS
GAMECENTER: CHI vs. VAN
RECAP: Blackhawks Fall to Canucks, 4-1
HIGHLIGHTS: Blackhawks vs. Canucks 
GALLERY: 1Kane, Blackhawks vs. Canucks 
INSIDER: Gustafsson Excited to Be Home

PLAYING FROM BEHIND

Despite another early flurry of chances in the offensive zone to start the game, including four chances in a 45-second span just a minute in, the Blackhawks found themselves trailing in the game after Jason Dickinson's opening tally just 6:26 in.
It was the fourth time Chicago has allowed the first goal in the opening minutes and fifth time in five games they've trailed first in a contest. The Blackhawks have yet to hold a lead this season at any point in a game, fighting from behind for the majority of this season's play.
"If you score the first goal, it's a different game. They got it and we battled back and couldn't get the next one. It's hard to chase the game." Colliton said.
"It's easier to play when you're ahead, just gives you a little more margin for error," he continued. "Especially when we're trying to get some points here to get some momentum. We've got to fight through it."

EVEN STEVEN

Chicago's power play struck yet again on Thursday night, the fifth man-advantage goal on the year. But when at even strength, the goals aren't following in the same order with just three goals for this season at 5-on-5 play, tied for the league low.
The penalty kill continues to excel, not allowing opponents to strike a man up save for a rebound effort at 5-on-3 on Thursday night, the first power play goal allowed by the Blackhawks on the year. But at 5-on-5 the team has allowed 17, a league high.
"Tonight, just baring down on our chances," Kane said of the struggles to score at even strength. "I'm probably the main culprit for that. Had a few chances there in the second, would've been nice to capitalize, even in the first as well. It comes down to baring down in certain parts of the game and obviously when you have chances to score. That's a pretty big part, but I think we also want to create some more traffic and get some more rebound goals, things like that."
"We've got to shoot the puck more. We've got to be at the net, give ourselves a chance to score a dirty goal, let the puck go in off you, create a rebound," Colliton echoed. "There's little things you can do and ultimately we've got to give ourselves a chance to get a bounce."

STROME GOES IN

After being a healthy scratch in the opening four games -- a product of lineup decisions the coaches felt gave the team the best chance to win, Colliton said -- Dylan Strome made his season debut on Thursday night playing the win opposite his closest friend, Alex DeBrincat.
He didn't have to wait long to get his first look at goal, and a chance to prove he should be a regular on the gameday roster, with DeBrincat setting him up for a chance on the opening shift for their line.
"It wasn't bad. Can definitely build on some things," Strome said of his game overall. "Not playing for nine days, Brinksy finds me that first shift about 10 seconds into my season, just kind of rolled off my stick. I think the guy behind me might've gotten a poke on it. Nice to get those chances and set up a couple more later in the game."
The forward finished with 13:12 of ice time and a shot on goal in the loss but left a positive showing of the offense he can help generate, on the ice for nine scoring chances for on the night, six high-danger opportunities.
"I think he made some plays, had some chances, made a nice play there in the third to Tazer," Colliton said. "For him not playing for awhile, I thought he was solid. The penalty (he took) in the second was a tough one, but overall he made some plays, worked hard."