The Blackhawks are unhinged after another major mistake in the loss to the Devils

NEWARK, NJ – The Blackhawks have lost many games this season because of small mistakes in the third period.

You can add their 4-1 loss to the Devils on Saturday to the list.

With the score tied 1-1 with less than ten minutes left, young defenseman Wyatt Kaiser had an obvious opportunity to clear the puck after a marathon shift of more than two minutes in the defensive zone. But Kaiser was indecisive and held on too long, Devils striker Jesper Bratt forced a turnover and Jack Hughes scored the opening goal seconds later.

“I think there were many moments in this transition where we could have done things much better,” said interim coach Anders Sorensen.

Had the Hawks done any of these things, the change would not have continued and the narrative might have been different.

Such mishaps at the worst of times explain why the Hawks have been first to an NHL lead 19 times in 30 games – and led, tied or trailed by one goal in the third period 29 times in 30 games – and still remain in last place The league is in third place with a record of 9-19-2 and 20 points.

The Hawks’ fourth line – not the third line led by Jason Dickinson – and the top defensive pair were the ones who were overwhelmed in the crucial shift. But Dickinson knows exactly what this kind of fatigue-induced mental impairment feels like.

“Once you get that tired, your brain starts to shut down,” Dickinson said. “You can no longer see the open ice.” The other options are no longer shown to you. And you . . . Missing a guy in your butt because you’re so focused on what’s in front of you and not being able to see all the ice. “Once you get that full, it becomes a lot harder to really play the best game possible.”

That’s a universal truth in hockey, but these Hawks also seem predisposed to a less excusable kind of mental weakness: fragility. When something goes wrong – especially in higher-pressure situations, such as the third period and away games – it often results in an avalanche of self-destruction.

After conceding three goals in two minutes and 19 seconds against the Islanders on Thursday, the Hawks improved their game again on Saturday. Hughes’ goal was the first of three the Devils scored in a span of two minutes and six seconds, blowing up the score.

“Why are we so depressed after a goal?” asked captain Nick Foligno. “It’s the reality of the NHL.” You’re not going to win every game 1-0. The teams will score. We do this with other teams too. So why are we so nervous when they score against us? Now the teams are coming in waves and we don’t know how to deal with them.

“It seems like we’re trying to score the goal again straight away or force things.” That’s unacceptable at this point. Anders came up with a damn good plan. We really like the way we have to and will play for him. “We just have to start playing like that the whole game.”

Sorensen’s game plans and system changes appear to be effective. The Hawks looked like a more dangerous, more cohesive team last week, although his 1-3-0 record as interim coach doesn’t reflect that.

The Hawks could have easily had better fortunes on Saturday, considering they led 1-0 at the second intermission – thanks to outstanding play from rookie goaltender Drew Commesso – and hit the post three times. Striker Connor Bedard was responsible for two of those shots off the post, mixing brilliant and silly moments.

However, it is largely the Hawks’ own fault that a better fate so rarely befalls them.

“You have to mitigate the mistakes so that when they happen, they happen and we move on,” Dickinson said. “It seems like it happens and then happens again and we give in ourselves.”