Anders Sorensen loses 1st game as interim Blackhawks coach
Chicago Blackhawks interim head coach Anders Sorensen watches his team in an NHL hockey game against the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Chicago. Credit: AP/Charles Rex Arbogast
CHICAGO — Anders Sorensen's first game with Chicago looked a lot like when Luke Richardson was coaching the Blackhawks.
Not enough offense in another loss.
Sorensen took over as the interim coach after Richardson was fired on Thursday. The 49-year-old Sorensen, who was promoted from Rockford of the American Hockey League, had one practice with Chicago before it faced Winnipeg on Saturday.
The Blackhawks finished with a season-low 14 shots on goal in their fifth consecutive loss, shut down by Winnipeg in the final two periods of the Jets' 4-2 win. The last-place Blackhawks had only six shots in the final 40 minutes.
“I thought they hemmed us in because they were (taking) a lot of shots and recovering a lot of pucks and we got kind of back on our heels a little bit,” said Sorensen, the first Swedish-born head coach in NHL history. “You know we have to turn around and find pucks constantly. It's a tough way to play.”
Sorensen faced an early challenge when goaltender Petr Mrazek departed in the first period with an apparent groin injury.
“He’ll be out a little bit,” Sorensen said without offering a specific timetable.
Chicago Blackhawks interim head coach Anders Sorensen, top right, listens as assistant coach Derek King draws up a play in the closing minutes of an NHL hockey game against the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Chicago. The Jets won 4-2. Credit: AP/Charles Rex Arbogast
The Blackhawks employed a 2-1-2 defensive look, but often had a defenseman in the offensive mix when they carried the puck into the Winnipeg zone. But misfires were common.
“We’ve had one practice,” captain Nick Foligno said. “We obviously understand the urgency. It’s just not going to turn around in one day. He wants us to be a real tenacious go-ahead team. You could see that tonight when we were playing on our toes.”
Next up for Chicago is a three-game trip beginning on Monday night against the New York Rangers. The Blackhawks are 4-9-2 on the road this year.
“We’re trying to find our game and understand what we do a little bit better,” Foligno said. “I think the first period we did a lot of good things. We had pace, played the way Anders wants us to play. It’s disappointing we didn’t get the job done.”
