Four takeaways: Blackhawks follow same script in eighth consecutive loss to Jets

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Here are four takeaways from the Blackhawks' 6-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets at Bell MTS Place on Tuesday:

1. No words

We're running out of words to explain the Blackhawks' poor starts. Everyone is. They gave up three goals on 15 shots in the first period, and didn't record their first shot on goal until the 17:36 mark.

At one point the Jets were outshooting the Blackhawks 14-0 while leading 3-0 on the scoreboard. The Blackhawks have allowed the first goal in 11 straight contests and are now being outscored 27-6 in the first period over that stretch.

"At some point talking about it isn't helping," coach Jeremy Colliton said after practice on Monday. "Try to give them some ideas about how to fix it, but not dwell on it. We'll see."

2. Three unanswered

After going down 4-0, the Blackhawks took advantage of a Jets team that took their foot off the gas by scoring three unanswered — two in the second period and one in the third — to cut their deficit to 4-3.

It followed the same script as the past several games, where the Blackhawks get off to a poor start, push back, and then come up short of a potential comeback. They're shooting themselves in the foot and until they get out of their own way, won't make any progress. The Jets scored the next goal to make it 5-3 — the empty-netter put it at 6-3 — and it sucked the life out of any momentum the Blackhawks were trying to build.

3. Careless penalties and a struggling kill

The Jets entered Tuesday with the third-ranked power play, converting on 28.7 of their chances. The Blackhawks committed five penalties — most of which were unnecessary or preventable — and the Jets made them pay three times. And they all came at key times.

Mark Scheifele's put the Jets up 1-0, Kyle Connor's second of the night extended their lead to 4-0 and Mathieu Perreault's was the dagger that put it at 5-3. 

On Sunday, it was missed opportunities on the power play that cost the Blackhawks. On Tuesday, it was the penalty kill. Special teams remains a work in progress.

4. Chemistry developing between Patrick Kane and Dylan Strome?

Time for a positive. The two best forwards on the Blackhawks may have been Kane and Strome, both of whom were on the scoresheet — Strome with a goal and Kane with two assists. 

It was Strome's fourth goal in eight games as a member of the Blackhawks and Kane's second straight multi-point game. Kane also extended his point streak to four games, and has six points (two goals, four assists) over that span.

But back to Kane and Strome as a duo. The two of them were on the ice for 9:34 of 5-on-5 time and controlled 64.7 percent of the shot attempts when they were together, and also generated four scoring chances, according to naturalstattrick.com. When they were separated, Strome's percentage was at 14.3. Perhaps Colliton will go back to that line — along with Alex DeBrincat — to start the game on Wednesday against Pittsburgh and build off the chemistry they're creating.

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