4 things we learned at Chicago Blackhawks practice, including what a peak Jonathan Toews looks like and Connor Murphy’s proposal

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After a two-day break, the Chicago Blackhawks returned to practice Tuesday looking to repair some of the “cracks in our armor” before they head west to take on the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks.

Despite losing their last game 4-0 to the Jets on Saturday in Winnipeg, coach Luke Richardson focused on the positives during film review.

“I don’t believe in beating on players on negative stuff,” he said..

The Hawks have been playing even with teams — and even have outplayed some for stretches — but not always for 60 minutes.

“The third period we showed some cracks in our armor,” Richardson said of the Jets game. “We didn’t play sound hockey and showed a little frustration. Now let’s get back. If it takes three periods, it takes three periods. Can’t be just two periods of playing smart hockey.

“So a little bit of the intelligent game within the game. You have to play the whole game, all those little games. It’s mind games, it’s body language, it’s trying to manipulate the play so we get a power play and don’t get frustrated and take one at certain times.

“Just trying to grow intelligently as a team. We’re not all young on the team but we’re a young team together, so we have to grow together.”

Here are four things we learned from practice.

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The plan for Petr Mrázek isn’t as simple as he’s the every-game starter once he’s cleared to return from a groin strain.

“We’ll probably be smart and split the duties,” Richardson said. “(Goalies coach) Jimmy (Waite) is going to do a little research on past records and stuff like that and we’ll make that decision probably tomorrow, so we’ll let the goalies know and get prepared.”

The goalie net has been a game of musical chairs.

After Mrázek’s injury, a collision sent Alex Stalock into concussion protocol, and Arvid Söderblom left Saturday’s game after two periods with an illness. Richardson had to turn to recent Rockford IceHogs call-up Dylan Wells, who stopped 12 of 13 shots in his NHL debut.

“Just to be cautious they put him through some testing and everything seems to be negative,” Richardson said of Söderblom. “He’s had some issues with some dehydration, which probably led to not feeling great. … But he’s fine and he looked good in practice (Tuesday).”

The Hawks sent Wells back to Rockford.

Meanwhile, Stalock skated and participated in puck-handling drills.

“He didn’t take any shots, but that was his first step,” Richardson said. “He won’t be coming on the trip with us.”

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Toews’ seven goals lead the Hawks and are tied for 16th in the league. Through 12 games, he’s on pace for 48 goals, which would top his career high of 35 in 2018-19 by 13.

So it was a matter of time before he was asked: “Do you feel like you’re playing your best hockey right now?”

“No, not even,” Toews said with a laugh. “I feel like in my best moments, there’s not a lot that I feel like I can’t do on the ice, whether it’s taking the zone draws and big moments protecting a lead or a penalty kill or finding a way to help score a goal — whether it’s myself or someone else in the power play or six-on-five or down, whatever (the) situation.”

Toews wants to make sure he still has a hand in the broad picture. His 59.6% faceoff percentage nearly matches his career high (59.9% in 2012-13), but his average ice time (16:55) would be a career low by more than half a minute.

“It feels good when I’m out there playing big minutes and making things happen in every situation, and I know I can get back to doing that,” Toews said. “Condition and strength and keeping up with the speed of the game is a whole other thing, so just working toward making it a little bit easier.”

It’s a good thing Richardson gave the team a two-day break between the game in Winnipeg and the upcoming Southern California swing.

Murphy used the time off to propose to his girlfriend, Kristina Trifunovic.

He took her to a spot near Lincoln Park Zoo, not far from their residence in Old Town.

“We got lucky it was a perfect day in the fall,” Murphy told the Tribune. “I was nervous. Having an off day, you never know (if it’s) rain or cloudy or whatever.”

He said Trifunovic had no idea what was coming.

“I had a photographer with us and I had her thinking that it was like a photo shoot of us for fall pictures or whatever sort of content … and had her get some individual pictures on her own. And I was waiting behind her for a while to realize what was happening.”

Murphy said his bride-to-be is a nurse from Gurnee.

“She didn’t really know anything about hockey, which I liked,” he said. “She was always busy and actually wasn’t really wanting to meet up with me and go out for a couple of dates. I was persistent and here we are.”

The couple hasn’t set a date yet.

“Luckily that’s probably more on her than me. I did my part for now,” he said with a laugh.

So naive.

The question to Murphy: Do you have any idea what you’ve gotten yourself into?

“I’ve been warned for years about what’s in store and seeing all the guys (who’ve been) in the process of a wedding,” he said. ”Sounds stressful, but it’ll be enjoyable and I’m excited to get all that process going.”

Richardson noted the young defenseman reached another milestone in his recovery.

“I think that was his first full practice today in a regular jersey,” said Richardson, who added that Mitchell would be reevaluated after practice. “More than likely he’ll have to get some games in Rockford. He hasn’t had anything at all in training camp.”

Mitchell is already a step behind other young defensemen trying to make an impression on Hawks brass, but he’ll have to continue to be patient.

“It’s been tough missing an extended period of time to start the season,” he said, “but it’s nice to get back into real practice and kind of feel out the body contact and that sort of thing so I can get in some games here.

“I’m not sure what the plan is yet with (whether I’m) on the way back or I’ll be playing, but I’m just excited.”