It was a coming-back-to-earth moment for the Chicago Blackhawks.<\/p>\n
Things started off great Wednesday in the Hawks\u2019 return to United Center after a 3-2-1 trip<\/a>. Connor Bedard scored his 10th goal<\/a> of the season on a first-period five-on-three \u2014 his ninth straight game with a point \u2014 to get the Hawks faithful pumped up.<\/p>\n Photos: Chicago Blackhawks lose to New Jersey Devils 4-3 in OT<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The Hawks outshot the New Jersey Devils 12-10 in the first, one of the few times they\u2019ve won in that category. That\u2019s when the offense disappeared.<\/p>\n They had only eight combined shots on goal in the second and third periods. While the Hawks were able to take the game to overtime, they weren\u2019t able to find their first-period selves.<\/p>\n The Hawks (8-5-4) fell to the Eastern Conference-leading Devils 4-3 in overtime on defenseman Simon Nemec\u2019s third goal of the game. The point was welcome, but they knew they didn\u2019t play their best hockey.<\/p>\n \u201cWe just didn\u2019t have our \u2018A\u2019 game,\u201d captain Nick Foligno said. \u201cI thought we competed hard and found a way to get a point, and that\u2019s important coming off a road trip. It was weird because we did compete, but it just seemed like the energy to make the simple plays or the sharpness that we normally played with seemed missing a little bit.\u201d<\/p>\n It was a confusing game for sure, as the Hawks were unable to hold 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 leads. Some new faces tried to preserve their three-game winning streak.<\/p>\n Forward Landon Slaggert \u2014 hours after being recalled from Rockford \u2014 sent a sudden snipe from the blue line<\/a> into the goal at 3:05 of the second period to give the Hawks their second lead. Forward Sam Lafferty made the most of his increased ice time with a goal of the year candidate<\/a> late in the third period.<\/p>\n \u201cIt started with a great wall play by Foligno that allowed me to blow out of the zone,\u201d Lafferty said.\u00a0 \u201cFrom there, instincts took over. Luckily enough, it went in.\u201d<\/p>\n Added Hawks coach Jeff Blashill: \u201cI was pumped for him. He\u2019s a great person, got a great perspective. He\u2019s not happy to be sitting, but he\u2019s been a team guy the whole time. Real professional, so for him to have that moment was pretty cool. It was a sick goal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n