Chicago Blackhawks Slapped by Reality over the Weekend

The Chicago Blackhawks celebrated Patrick Kane's 23rd birthday hours before their scheduled game Saturday. The 'Hawks apparently left a few things back in the game room of the Edmonton Chuck E. Cheese.

Someone better check the ball pit for Chicago's game, because it sure wasn't at Rexall Place.

Concepts like defense and effort were on short supply in the course of the 'Hawks 9-2 spanking at the hands of the Oilers. The wheels came off halfway into the circus trip.

I guess we can forgive the letdown after a big effort against...oh, wait.

We came out like day-old flapjacks against Calgary the night before, didn't we?

Joel Quenneville may want to keep a lid on his team's partying in Vegas. That's the team's next stop before starting the California half of the road trip.

They don't seem to handle themselves well after a bit of celebrating. But hey, the power play's looking better, huh?

Against the Flames, the 'Hawks made poor defensive decisions all evening. The only difference between Friday and Saturday was that the Oilers had the speed and ability to convert on those mistakes at a higher rate.

Right from the get-go, when Steve Montador ole'-ed Alex Hemsky on his way to the first Oiler goal, the Blackhawks seemed to be a day late and a dollar short.

Duncan Keith followed up a minus-four performance in Calgary with another minus-four Saturday.

Brent Seabrook is missed on the blue line, but this is ridiculous. There's no excuse for this lost weekend of defense.

The back-to-back dismantling of the Blackhawks have knocked us off of our collective high horse after Chicago sailed to the top of the NHL standings. Four straight wins provided a measure of serenity and an inflated sense of where this team is at with a quarter of the season in the books.

This team isn't nearly as bad as they showed this weekend. They also aren't the Juggernaut we wanted to believe they were following a big win in Vancouver.

It's hard not to dwell on two poor efforts like the ones we just saw in Alberta. It's harder still not to get bent out of shape that they came on consecutive nights.

This team needs to clear their heads and set their focus on three tough opponents, starting with the San Jose Sharks.

Seabrook may be ready to play by then, along with Michael Frolik, who missed the weekend carnage with a shoulder injury. Bryan Bickell failed to take advantage of Frolik's absence and may be a regular resident of Scratchland.

This team is far from taking shape. Expect the evolution to continue.

Quenneville needs to get this team moving forward after a lackluster weekend, even if it means a night off for the players.

Just keep 'em out of the ball pit, okay?