Slumping Blackhawks lack spark

Despite losing their last three games, there is some good news for the Blackhawks.

They get to play Columbus next.

But even that game Thursday against a Blue Jackets team with the worst record in the NHL is no slam dunk the way the Hawks are scuffling along.

Consider the Hawks to be in their first slump of the season.

The Hawks followed up their ragged effort against Vancouver on Sunday with another one Tuesday in a 3-0 loss to the St. Louis Blues.

The Hawks had little going on from the opening faceoff.

“The first period, nothing happened there; no pace to our game,” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. “We didn't generate. We couldn't make a pass. I don't know how many incomplete passes we had, whether it was on the power play or 5-on-5. Our puck possession was terrible.”

While it's not time to reach for the panic button, there is much missing from the Hawks' game, starting with emotion and energy from many of their top players.

“We have to get a little frustrated, a little (ticked) off and get some emotion,” Jonathan Toews told reporters.

“We'll talk about things and visit with all areas of our game,” Quenneville said.

Quenneville tried shuffling his lines and defense pairs. He benched Bryan Bickell on Tuesday. Maybe it's time for Quenneville and general manager Stan Bowman to send harsher messages.

Defenseman John Scott and winger Rostislav Olesz continue to fill roster spots while adding little to the team.

Quenneville played Scott and Olesz against the Blues, but neither had an impact on anything that took place.

Scott was minus-1 in 11 minutes. Olesz played 11 minutes with 2 shots on goal in his first appearance since Oct. 13.

It's getting tiresome talking about the power play, which was 0-for-4 in this latest loss to drop to dead last in the NHL rankings (5-for-57).

Quenneville admitted his top players might be losing confidence in other aspects of their game because of the failure of the power play.

“The power play, we have to get something off of that,” Quenneville said. “Right now the confidence is a little down.”

While the thinking until now has been Bowman would be looking to add a center through a trade at some point this season, maybe the search should be for another defenseman who could help quarterback the power play.

Quenneville was asked Monday if he felt if the work of point men Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Patrick Sharp and Nick Leddy was a problem for the power play. He didn't say it wasn't.

“They've all been there, and they've all been successful at it,” Quenneville said. “I think the three or four guys that have been on the point on the power play, I think that's an area we can be more consistent.

“We can all improve in that area, whether it's our shot selection, our play selection, our patience with the puck. I think that's an area we can improve.”

The Blues made new coach Ken Hitchcock a winner in his first game. Goalie Jaroslav Halak, who had been 1-6, made 29 saves.