What’s a team that has lost two of three in regulation without Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, who is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery on a torn rotator cuff?
They’re the one that’s been so disappointing on the road lately, a team so far away from the playoffs.
And the defense that hasn’t been great in that stretch?
A unit that, even with Toews’ absence, has played with a lot of energy, even when it’s been a long stretch.
Chicago’s been pretty good at shutting out teams that come to town.
The Blackhawks won the first two games of this series by a combined seven goals, the most in the league at 3-0.
They’ve played like a juggernaut in those games.
And, in the final two, they’ve allowed just one goal in 11 chances.
But they’re still on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoffs for the first time since 2005.
They’re one of four teams with at least three games left, and two of them (the Rangers and Sharks) are also chasing the division title.
In other words, it’s a tough road ahead for this Hawks team.
And they’re starting to show it.
They had a 5-0 lead early in the third period when they scored the first goal of the series, a beautiful wrist shot from defenseman Brandon Saad.
It was one of the game’s best shots.
But after two power-play goals, it was all the Blackhawks could do not to try to tie the game.
But it was the only shot on the night.
That’s when it all went wrong.
The Hawks were playing with energy and enthusiasm, especially with their penalty kill.
They got a couple power-plays that were great, but when they were out of it, they were a mess.
It wasn’t until the fourth period that they finally put the game away.
The goal by forward Johnny Oduya was a game-winner after Chicago had taken an early 1-0 advantage, but Chicago could have scored again at any point in the first or second periods.
Saad gave the Blackhawks the lead with a wrist shot that was tipped over the goal line by defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk.
Saads went in alone on the right side, but defenseman Nate Schmidt blocked it, giving Chicago a 3-1 lead.
It would have been the first 3-on-3 goal Chicago had allowed in the last nine games.
The Rangers led 3-2 at the start of the third, but Saad put the Rangers ahead 2-1 with a power-slinging pass to Jaden Schwartz.
Schwartz’s pass was deflected by goaltender Craig Anderson, who had been a defensive liability against Dallas, and he slid the puck into the back of the net for the game-winning goal.
The Sharks won the next two games, but were outshot 13-3 in the fourth.
They were able to win two straight games before Chicago finally beat them in five games, 7-2 on Saturday.
But that game wasn’t even close.
The third period was the highlight of the night for this team, when it looked like they might finally get a goal.
A short, back-and-forth goal that went in off a rebound was the game winner.
Chicago scored twice in the second period, on a power play with 10:54 remaining.
It’s the first of a two-goal second period that is now tied.
The first goal was a beauty from Saad, who was whistled for a high-sticking penalty on the play.
He took a puck past Anderson and fed Saad for the tying goal, which would be the game ending goal.
But Saad was in on the goal.
He tipped the puck off the stick of defenseman John Klingberg, who then put it in his own net with his legs.
Saadias goal was the first in Chicago history.
It came in the closing minutes of the second when the Blackhawks were up 3-3.
Jake Allen’s shot was deflection and the puck rolled to Saad at the top of the left circle.
He was left hanging on the corner, his stick bouncing off the glass and hitting Saad’s jersey.
He had no chance.
But his teammates stepped up and scored their second goal of their season.
That was a moment that really gave Chicago its best chance to pull out a win.
But then it became a game of inches.
The Blues tied the game in the sixth on a goal by rookie winger Vladimir Tarasenko.
Taraskovas shot from the slot was deflated by defenseman Kyle Okposo, but it bounced off the glove of Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith.
The puck bounced back into the net, and the game went to overtime.
The power play stopped at 1:15 of the extra period.
Chicago had one more chance to tie things up before a 3:45 mark of the first period.
It ended with two power plays and a goal from Saadiya, who beat goalie Michal