After their second set of back-to-back losses this month, the Chicago Blackhawks will try to avoid their longest skid of the season on Tuesday when they host the Calgary Flames at United Center.
The Blackhawks are 24-4-3 on the season, but all four of the Western Conference leader's regulation losses have come over the last seven games.
Chicago went on the longest point streak in NHL history to begin a season with a 21-0-3 record before finally losing in regulation to Colorado on March 8. The Blackhawks also lost their next game in regulation before winning three straight.
However, the Blackhawks are now stuck in their second 0-2 slump of the season, having lost to two of the West's best teams in recent days. Last Wednesday, Chicago dropped a 4-2 decision at Anaheim, which is just three points behind the Blackhawks for the top seed in the West.
Chicago had several days to prepare for Monday's home test against Los Angeles, but the defending Stanley Cup champions rallied for a 5-4 road victory. Dustin Brown scored the game-winning goal with 1:27 remaining in regulation to lift the Los Angeles Kings to the comeback win at United Center.
The Kings trailed the Blackhawks on three separate occasions before rallying to hand Chicago a second straight loss. Chicago's last lead came after captain Jonathan Toews scored 3:51 into the third period, staking the Blackhawks to a 4-3 lead. But, Tyler Toffoli tied the game for L.A. and set the stage for Brown's game-winner.
Michael Frolik scored twice and added an assist to pace Chicago offensively, while Corey Crawford allowed all five goals on 36 shots.
"We knew it was a dangerous game for us," Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville said. "We knew they were going to be hungry, and we didn't respond to the challenge."
Chicago fell to 11-2-1 as the host this season and will try to bounce back in the second part of a three-game homestand. The Blackhawks will aim for revenge in the finale of the residency, as they host Anaheim on Friday.
The Blackhawks haven't lost three straight since an 0-3 stretch from Feb. 23-26 of last season.
The Flames, who are 14th out of 15 teams in the West, snapped a three-game losing streak in their last trip to the ice, beating the visiting St. Louis Blues on Sunday by a 3-2 score. Calgary led the game 2-0 in the second period, but allowed St. Louis to tie the game before Jarome Iginla scored the game- winning goal with 7:02 remaining in regulation.
Roman Cervenka added a pair of goals and Miikka Kiprusoff made 36 saves for the Flames, who won for just the third time in nine games.
"Even though we lost our two-goal lead, everything was good on the bench and we knew that we had a chance, because Kipper had an answer for basically every shot they would throw at us," said Flames head coach Bob Hartley.
Calgary will try to snap a nine-game road losing streak on Tuesday. The club is 3-9-2 as the guest this season and hasn't won a game away from the Saddledome since beating Dallas on Feb. 17.
The Flames played the Blackhawks tough in the first meeting between the teams this season. Chicago's Marian Hossa tied the game with three seconds left in regulation and the Blackhawks eventually won the 3-2 shootout decision.
Chicago has taken four of six overall in this series and Calgary has lost its past nine games in the Windy City.
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