Rookies. They can make a brilliant play one moment and a boneheaded play the next.
Defenseman Kevin Korchinski flipped both sides of that coin during the first period of the Chicago Blackhawks’ 5-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.
When it went right.
It was a little past the halfway mark of the first period, coming out of a TV timeout.
Philipp Kurashev won the faceoff.
Korchinski recalled to the Tribune, “I got the puck, (Connor Bedard) rolled up high, gave it to him. He took my spot so I tried to follow (Ryan Donato) to the net.”
Bedard’s shot was partially blocked by Boone Jenner, so it bounced off the back wall to Korchinski, who made a no-look backhand pass to Donato in the low slot.
“It just came to me and saw (Donato) in the slot and tried to give a bit of deception, (and) gave him a good look,” Korchinski said.
Donato flubbed it and the shot went wide right, but Korchinski blamed himself.
“Didn’t give him a good enough pass and connect (with) him.
“I didn’t see it, but I think I was a bit too hard for him, so I’ve got to be lighter. He was in the slot low, I’ve got to get it in a sweet spot.”
When it went wrong.
Korchinski made back-to-back mistakes on this one.
With about two minutes left in the first period, Jason Dickinson drew a holding call on Erik Gudbranson, so the Hawks got a power play.
Time was ticking off with the Hawks on the rush and a chance to tie the game 2-2, and with 16 seconds left, Korchinski tried to force a cross-ice pass to Taylor Raddysh.
Cole Sillinger intercepted it and finished off a breakaway with a shot on goal.
Korchinski admitted that “maybe a bit of frustration” played into what happened next.
As the final 6 seconds ticked off, Korchinski passed to Alex Vlasic and Vlasic tried to pass it back to him. But Korchinski slammed his stick on the ice in frustration as he made a change, oblivious to the loose puck drifting behind him.
Sean Kuraly seized on it and got a shot off just a hair after time expired (though Arvid Söderblom gloved it anyway).
"We've talked about it. (Assistant coach) Kevin Dean talked to him about it right away. Abruptly."
–Luke Richardson on talking to Kevin Korchinski about leaving the ice too soon, creating a loose puck and a chance for the Blue Jackets pic.twitter.com/6CVOSmQq2h
— Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) March 3, 2024
Coach Luke Richardson said after practice Sunday, “He’s upset, he wants to get off the ice and change and we almost get a too-many-men (penalty) or give them an opportunity. Luckily the time ran out there.
“We just have to be aware,” he said. “You can’t just be so upset at yourself as a younger player, or even an older player, and then just think, ‘Oh, it’s not my night. I’m getting off the ice.’ You’re giving someone else your problem. Fix your problem and then get off the ice at the appropriate time.”
That’s the longer version of the lesson.
In the immediate aftermath, assistant coach Kevin Dean gave Korchinski, let’s say, the abbreviated version.
“Kevin Dean talked to him about it right away,” Richardson said. “Abruptly.”
Korchinski said fatigue played a factor.
“Yeah, I think it was out there minute, minute and 15 (it was 1:06, according to the timekeepers) and then it gave it to (Vlasic). …
“I was pretty tired and just kind of a mental fart. I was just going to change, I didn’t even know the puck was coming to me until I had changed. I had no idea, so I’ve got to be a lot more aware there and take full responsibility, and (I was) just lucky that the time ran out on getting a shot.”
Richardson said, “He’s a great skater. Even if he’s a little tired, there’s five seconds left, we have to be able to absorb that.”
Message received.
Like with any rookie, sometimes it’s going to be two steps forward, one step back.
Sometimes it’s going to be the other way around.
Korchinski said he felt like he’s been making strides all season, honing his defense primarily.
“I’ve tried to defend inside-out, just a lot of stuff I want to work on,” he said. “Just need to be confident, skate more, use my feet as much as I can. … Need a bit more offense and try and join the play more, try and create more.
“But I’ve got to work a lot on my game and try to help the team win more.”
Korchinski said the key for himself and the team as a whole: Play simpler.
“Get pucks deep and let’s go to work,” he said.
