"Jonathan Toews looked like a punching bag.

First, it was center Joe Thornton landing a punch to his face. Then it was edgy winger Ryane Clowe coming in and doing the same. The San Jose Sharks had more in store for the Blackhawks' captain throughout the game Friday at HP Pavilion.

It was part of the Hawks' first real taste of serious adversity despite what already had transpired on their ugly losing skid. The Hawks were down two of their top five defensemen, their unquestioned leader was getting seriously roughed up and the team fell behind by two goals — both scored on the power play — in the first period.

The Hawks showed some resolve and rallied, but during these days of bad positioning, bad penalty-killing and bad goaltending, that doesn't count for much. In the end, the Sharks were too much. They won 5-3 to extend the Hawks' losing streak to seven games overall and nine in a row on the road.

"We played hard out there," Toews said. "We saw some fights. We saw some scratching and clawing, battling in front of the net and some ugly goals. We played the way we had to. We just gave them too many opportunities on the power play, and that's how they separated themselves from us."

The Hawks' power play went 0-for-3 while their dismal penalty kill allowed three goals (Justin Braun, Dan Boyle and Jamie McGinn) on six opportunities. The Hawks' forwards haven't gotten in the way of many shots this season on the penalty kill."