Scott Powers is reporting that Jeff Blashill will stay on as Blackhawks head coach, according to an anonymous source within the organization.
The word comes less than a day after Chicago was run out of Carolina in a 9-2 loss on Saturday night, its sixth straight defeat. Questions about the man behind the bench were bound to follow.
Gino Hard passed along the news that the source confirmed Blashill will not be fired.
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Earlier today, we reported that Kyle Davidson's situation after the 9-2 loss was the story to watch, with Ben Pope writing that the Blackhawks have to change and that the general manager is on the clock. Keeping the coach is one kind of change. It isn't the one Pope described.
The record explains the noise. Chicago sits at 4-13-1 with 9 points, and the road has been a disaster at 0-8-1.
Saturday was ugly in the crease. Spencer Knight allowed six goals on 17 shots, and Arvid Soderblom gave up three more on 16. Connor Bedard had a goal and an assist, and Roman Kantserov scored the other, but two goals never had a chance of mattering.
Elliotte Friedman reported the same day that Arvid Soderblom's waiver placement was official. So the goaltending is already being reshuffled, even with the coach staying put.
Does keeping Blashill change anything in Chicago?
Not by itself. A goal differential of -37 and 76 goals against in 18 games point to a team that is leaking everywhere, and the Blackhawks are 1-8-1 over their last 10.
Standing behind the coach is a defensible choice if management believes the roster is the problem. But then the pressure moves straight to Davidson, who now has to show the fix is coming from somewhere else. A coach who survives a 9-2 loss gets no grace period, and everyone in that building knows it.
The next test comes Thursday, when Buffalo visits. Chicago has lost six straight, and the next move, if there is one, will probably come from the front office.
Quick hits
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS: Jackie Spiegel just posted the lines from warmups in Calgary, and Matvei Michkov is skating at center on the third line.
A new look down the middle as the Flyers chase a win. Worth watching how long it lasts.
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TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING: Brayden Point went down the tunnel late in the first period as the Lightning visit the Jets, and Tampa Bay has not given an update.
Silence from the team is never comforting with a player like Point.
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GOALIE MATCHUP: Amanda Stein just confirmed that Connor Hellebuyck will start for the Devils tonight in Toronto against the Maple Leafs and Joseph Woll's counterpart Stolarz.
That is a tough assignment for a Toronto team trying to stop a slide.
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PITTSBURGH PENGUINS: Ville Koivunen is day-to-day with a lower-body injury and will miss tonight's game in Anaheim, the Penguins just confirmed.
One more lineup adjustment before puck drop against the Ducks.
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VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS: Danny Webster posted the final from Buffalo, Golden Knights 4, Sabres 1, and Adin Hill is the reason Vegas finished the trip with seven of eight points.
Strong finish to a road swing.
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Did the Blackhawks make a mistake by keeping Jeff Blashill after the 9-2 loss in Carolina?
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