One More Chance

Tonight we will find out if the Blackhawks can follow the lead of every other chalk in the Western Conference playoffs and even their series. If so Chicago and Nashville will be squaring off on Saturday in a best two out of three, with the Hawks having home ice advantage. A Game 4  Nashville win will most likely mean the Hawks will be in the running for the most disappointing playoff  performance in the Western Conference. 

Shot on goal totals don’t always indicate the game winner as many times they are misleading. There are some points of interest reflected in this series by a lack of Chicago shots on net. 

The Blackhawks have outshot their opponents in the regular season in 90% of their games. A puck possession team should often outshoot their opponents. The Hawks have had the largest differential in the NHL between shots taken and given up all season.

In the Nashville series Chicago has a two shot advantage in total for the three games.  

Most concerning is the Blackhawks haven’t had an effective response in any playoff game while behind. 

In the Game 1 loss Nashville dominated the second half of the contest. During the third period, although trailing for almost 10 minutes the Hawks were outshot 13-4. 

While behind on the scoreboard in the last forty minutes on Tuesday the Hawks were outshot 22-20. 

So it is difficult to ignore that an effective response hasn’t been there for Chicago in crucial times. 

It should also be recognized although Nashville’s defensive coverage and entire blue line unit has been great, they haven’t created a new lock down scheme. No analyst or so called expert has cited Barry Trotz for coming up with an exotic system to employ against the Hawks. 

So for Chicago success things will have to change tonight. 

Somehow the Hawks have to tighten their own coverage and play physically. But they can’t afford to take reckless penalties, sooner or later Nashville will score on the power play. 

To revive the offense, Chicago needs to get the puck to the weak side. The Predators are collapsing on the puck carrier and clogging up the middle of the ice. 

It won’t be easy but somehow the Hawks need to get more shots on goal. 

When they can gain the Nashville blue line with speed they haven’t been able to get defensemen in on the rush. So shots from Duncan Keith and others trailing the play haven’t happened very often. 

If the Hawks aren’t able to gain the blue line with speed, they will have to adapt and chip pucks in and play behind the Nashville defense. They did a decent job in Game 2 of doing just that. 

Also the Hawks forwards have to avoid playing on the perimeter and get the puck and themselves to the net. 

It is all easier said than done but the Hawks need to play with desperation. 

The Blackhawks can’t be outworked along the boards as in their two losses. They have to win the individual battles.

The reasons for the Hawks trailing in the series is Nashville has outworked them and they have had no real response when behind.

To no surprise Joel Quenneville will make a few changes for tonight. 

Brian Campbell might be a game time decision.          Update 1:00 cst….Campbell will be a game time decision.

From what has been reported by those at practice Campbell looks like he could play. I did an interview with the voice of the Predators Pete Weber last night, and he said Campbell looked very good at practice on Wednesday. 

Ben Eager and Colin Fraser are scratches and will be replaced by Bryan Bickell and Adam Burish. Quenneville is looking for some added jam and energy. 

Playing Bickell on the first or second line is an interesting move, not sure I buy into that one. But realistically the Hawks have been playing short a top six forward for most of the year and Quenneville has to get creative. In my view Troy Brouwer deserves another shot, but the coach should know best. 

Moving Patrick Sharp to center is necessary, Dave Bolland hasn’t played very well. It would be best to play Sharp with Patrick Kane but evidently he will center for Marian Hossa and Tomas Kopecky. Hopefully Sharp will be up to the added defensive responsibility which comes along with playing center. 

It appears Jonathan Toews and Kane will be reunited, at least for some of the game. Toews usually doesn’t play two poor games in a row, and Tuesday night he wasn’t very good. Hopefully he can find the energy to win battles and hopefully he isn’t hurt. 

If Campbell plays Dustin Byfuglien will be back at forward for the most part. If needed Byfuglien could be used at both positions depending on how Campbell is holding up. 

In the later stages of Game 3 Antti Niemi appeared not as confident.  He will have to regroup and play at his highest level tonight. Looking for any help from Cristobal Huet, who hasn’t played in almost a month, is extremely unlikely.  

The Hawks are a win away from regaining a very good chance at advancing in the series. With a loss they probably will be golfing very soon. 

blackhawkswin@comcast.net