Since March 12, the Blackhawks have had the second-worst goaltending within the NHL.
That’s the principle motive why they’ve gone 1-8-0 throughout that span (together with their loss Sunday) regardless of solely getting outshot 231-221, a shot ratio that ranks a decent twentieth within the league.
Goalie Arvid Soderblom began Sunday, giving Spencer Knight a break after he began every of the final 5 dwelling video games. Soderblom conceded 5 targets on 31 photographs in opposition to Utah, dropping his save share in 9 appearances because the 4 Nations break to an unsightly .870.
Issues haven’t gone very effectively for Knight not too long ago, both. After starting his Hawks tenure permitting three or fewer targets in every of his first 4 begins — posting a .928 save share over that span — he has allowed 4 or extra targets in 4 of these 5 most up-to-date begins, posting an .847 save share over that span.
He most likely ought to’ve stopped two or three of the Golden Knights’ targets Friday, and he has developed a sample of getting beat up excessive on the glove aspect. However it’s additionally true that most of the targets in opposition to him, particularly previous to Friday, have been both completely positioned photographs or wacky deflections.
All issues thought of, a nine-game pattern is small. It’s unwise to make many judgments based mostly on the top of this going-nowhere season. So far as Knight goes particularly, the hype round him throughout his spectacular first two weeks was most likely extreme, and the priority through the previous two weeks can be most likely extreme.
Knight’s view
For Knight personally, he’s taking these issues critically however not getting too labored up about them.
“There’s expert gamers on this league, they’re going to make nice performs, and also you’ve simply obtained to attempt to concentrate on what you’ll be able to and discover ways to get higher,” Knight stated not too long ago. “I all the time attempt to err on the aspect of, ‘Oh, how can I get higher?’ moderately than, ‘Oh, each aim is basically good. There’s nothing I may do.’ I feel that’s a mindset you’re not going to get higher with.
“[There are] little issues you’ll be able to all the time get higher on, and I attempt every day in observe to remain on high of these issues, whether or not it’s skating, monitoring, dealing with the puck or shifting into photographs. … I take into consideration them, however I don’t make them overly difficult and be too [stressed] like, ‘Oh my gosh.’”
Lacking the solar
Within the Hawks’ participant headshots, it’s comical how a lot tanner than everybody else Knight is, coming from Florida.
He grew up in Connecticut and clearly went on loads of street journeys with the Panthers, so he’s no stranger to chilly. However he’s excited for the approaching Chicago summer time.
“I heard it’s very nice when the climate will get higher, so I’m ready for that,” Knight stated. “I’m excited to get out a bit. I’ve been exploring the realm, [figuring out] the place I wish to stay and whatnot.”
