CHICAGO • Once again, the Blues had a road game against a quality opponent within their grasp and let it slip. Chicago's game-winning goal in a 3-1 victory came on an unlucky break, as the puck went in off the skate of David Backes, but the real reason the Blues lost Sunday was the fact that, once again, they failed to match the performance of their opponent late in the game.

Taught similar lessons in previous road losses, including two December games in Detroit, the Blues proved they still have much learning to do.

Entering Sunday's third period, the Blues were outshooting Chicago 22-13 and leading 1-0, but the Blackhawks rang up 14 shots and three goals, including an empty-netter, to pull out the come-from-behind victory.

"I don't think we've learned the lesson ... if we learned the lesson, we would have done it," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. "The only lesson you learn is you dig in harder. The difference is we had people who weren't performers today from the start to the finish. It didn't come up in the first period, but it came up in the second and the third. So they got pushed out."

The defeat dropped the Blues to 10-13-3 on the road this season, and they're now 5-8-2 against the Central Division, including 0-6-1 in their last seven division games. They will host Boston on Wednesday at Scottrade Center before packing their bags for a six-game, 10-day trip.

The Blues were making their first appearance at United Center this season on Sunday, and it was a homecoming of sorts for Chicago, which was playing at home for the first time in 25 days.

The visitors put together a dazzling first period, outshooting the Blackhawks 14-4 and holding them without a shot for a 14-minute stretch. But the offense couldn't convert the chances into a goal, banging three posts and misfiring on a short-handed breakaway by Andy McDonald with 11½ minutes left in the first period.

"I just missed," McDonald said. "I think I got a crossbar or elbow there. I don't get too many chances like that, so you've got to capitalize."

But then late in the first period, McDonald broke the scoreless game on a goal that withstood an official review.

Teammate Jamie Langenbrunner was standing in the crease when he kicked the puck toward the net with his left skate. It was headed for the back of the net and McDonald got a piece of it, nullifying the kicking motion by Langenbrunner.

McDonald's third goal in three games handed the Blues a 1-0 lead with 23 seconds left in the first period.

A scoreless second frame saw the Blues fail to execute their second breakaway of the day, as Chris Stewart had his attempt to beat Chicago goalie Corey Crawford through the legs denied. Meanwhile in the period, the Blackhawks came up empty on their third power play of the game, falling to 0 for their last 29 opportunities.

Ahead 1-0, the Blues were 25-1-1 this season when taking a lead into the third period. Their last loss in that situation was Dec. 27, when Detroit rallied from a 2-1 deficit in the final 20 minutes for a 3-2 victory.

"They don't give up much, and you've got to stay with it," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. "You've got to get through traffic. You've got to score ugly goals."

Early in the third period, Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith rifled a blast through traffic, beating goaltender Brian Elliott for a 1-1 score.

"I didn't even see (Keith)," said Elliott, who was making his third start in four days. "There were just bodies there. Sometimes those sneak through the crowd and you have a hard time reacting."

Elliott had no time to react on Chicago's second goal. This time, Keith wound up for a slap shot but sent a rocket pass to Dave Bolland on the left side of the net. Bolland went to pass the puck himself, but the puck went in off Backes for a 2-1 lead with 6:57 left in regulation.

"I saw (Patrick) Kane just to my left and I was trying to give it to him but it went off Backes' skate and into the net," Bolland said.

Backes called the play tough luck.

"We should be out of the zone before that, (but) we don't make plays to get it out and then I put one in the back of our net," Backes said. "Such is life. We need to be better all around and not have it go down to 10 minutes left, where we're on our heels and they're really bringing the pressure to us.

"It's a case of not sticking to our game long enough."

Chicago's Marian Hossa added an empty-netter with under one minute to play.

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BY DAN O'NEILL

As has happened so often, the Blues outplayed Chicago for much of the game. But the team's inability to take advantage of scoring chances allows the opposition to stay in the game. Chicago takes advantage to score three third-period goals, including an open-net tally late to secure a 3-1 win.

The Blues scored only one goal, by Andy McDonald. But they had two breakaways and several other good chances that weren't converted. As a result, a 1-0 lead disappears as the Hawks dominate the third period.  

The Blues continue to be a dissapointing team on the road, as their away record slips to 10-13-3.  

 

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Dave Bolland scores to give Chicago their first lead wit 6:57 to play. Bolland threw the puck in front of the net and it deflected in off David Backes.  

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Chicago ties the game with 16:04 to play on a blast by Duncan Keith.

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Brian Elliott has been solid and Andy McDonald's first-period goal is still holding up as the Blues carry a 1-0 lead to the third period.

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Blues out-shooting Hawks 22-10 with five minutes remaining.

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Chris Stewart gets a clean breakaway but can't beat Crawford through the legs.

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The second has not started well for the Blues. Chicago has much more jump. And now Sobotka has taken a delay-of-game penalty. 

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The Blues get a goal wth 24 seconds remaining. Alex Pietrangelo hit the goalpost with a shot - the third goalpost for the Blues - before the puck wound up in the crease. Jamie Langenbrunner kicked at the puck which was going in behind Corey Crawford. Andy McDonald was able to nudge it with his stick before it went in, nullifying Langenbrunner's kick and making it a good goal.

The goal is the third in three games for McDonald, as the Blues take a 1-0 lead to intermission.

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Now the Blues are on a power play after a silly call on Chicago's Jamal Mayers. Kris Russell hits the goalpost.

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The Blues kill off an early power play for the Blackhawks, but Chicago going right back on a PP after a ridiculous goaltender interference call on Vlad Sobotka with 12:44 to play.

He was pulled down by Chicago defender and slid into goaltender Corey Crawford - and the penalty is on Sobotka.