Playoffs

On Sunday, when Los Angeles dropped a 2-0 decision to the Coyotes, Kings head coach Darryl Sutter wasn’t happy. He was especially upset with his power play.

In postgame comments, Sutter called out his point men for not getting shots on goal. Sutter didn’t pull any punches, which is his way for the most part, and mentioned his players need to avoid getting their shots blocked.

Keep in my mind, at that time the Kings were ahead three games to one in the series, but Sutter still went out of his way to call out some players.

I wonder how many defensemen last season had more of their own shots blocked than Duncan Keith?

If memory serves me correctly, Joel Quenneville never publicly put the onus on Keith to get his shot through to the net. Different strokes for different coaches but players who are given the privilege of playing on the power play have to perform. Sutter certainly realizes the same.

By winning every playoff series so efficiently, the Kings should have a big advantage over whomever they play from the East.

Not to split hairs but…

Although the Blackhawks are at the top of the NHL in average attendance, which is close to 21,500 per game, this seemed a bit odd.

When the Hawks faced the Blues at the United Center on February 19 the attendance was 22,077, one of the larger crowds of the season.

Facing elimination in Game 6 the UC crowd was 21,636, which at the time struck me as being a little low. Maybe it is only matter of playoff tickets being more expensive and Coyote fans not traveling very well.

Possibly fan interest dropped off after the Hawks fell behind three games to one. Or maybe there is no significance in having a larger crowd in February than for a playoff elimination game. Either way, the attendance for next season will be interesting to keep an eye on.

Hossa

Adding to an anxious off summer for the Blackhawks is the real concern regarding Marian Hossa’s condition. It has been speculated Hossa suffered a serious concussion after the vicious cheap shot be Phoenix forward Raffie Torres.

Even if Hossa returns 100 percent healthy for training camp, which is not a given, there is no telling what lingering psychological effects will remain. Hossa is 33-years-old and commented he has never had the same type of head injury before. Not only might Hossa’s long-term health be in question but it will be interesting to see if he can be the same dominant player once again.

Kane

Many were waiting for the Blackhawks to make an official statement in regards to the off season antics of Patrick Kane. Unless Kane is charged with a crime or requires some sort of treatment, most likely the Hawks won’t be issuing any statement. There is a school of thought which is used in politics and applies here. Never try to defend what doesn’t need to be defended.

Apparently because Kane wasn’t arrested and charged with a crime the Blackhawks probably think it is best to not say anything. There will be fans who look at not issuing a comment as trying to ignore the situation and in some ways that would be correct. Others who die out political fires and handle such awkward public situations for a living would concur with Hawks management.

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On July 1, 2008 The Blackhawks made a huge splash in the hockey world and signed free agentdefenseman Brian Campbell. The cost for Campbellwas steep, an eight year contract with an approximate $7.1 million salary cap hit per season. This was a bold move and was done for a couple of reasons.

The Hawks were becoming arelevant sports story again in 2008 and the resurgence was due in part tomarketing guru John McDonough who was hired in November of 2007. Shortly after McDonough arrived there were rumblings the Blackhawks would pursue Campbell.

Back then the word goingaround indicated two main reasons the Hawks desired to sign Campbell.

First they wanted to make abig splash to let fans and players around the league know the Blackhawks wanted to be serious Stanley Cup contenders. Up until then free agents often shunned Chicago and when they didsign here a bad team premium had to be paid. Campbell was in the right place at the right time in a soft free agent market and GM Dale Tallon had a fat check book.

Campbell was also viewed as avaluable on ice commodity as he fit into the fast paced, transition game theHawks sought.  No doubt Campbell was overpaid but he became animportant member of the Stanley Cup winning squad. What may have begun as amore of marketing/media splash worked out on the ice as well.

Now rumor has it the Hawksare very interested in upcoming UFA defenseman Ryan Suter. This sounds very similar to the Campbell whispers aroundin late 2007 and the summer of 2008. Rumblings indicate the Hawks want to makeanother big splash and blow away some of the stink that has surrounded thefranchise this summer.

There is bad optics toovercome, starting with Patrick Kane’s shenanigans and a front office mentioned to be in disarray on Canadian TV.  So farthis must be a spring from hell for McDonough who has to be concerned with preserving the image of his resurrected Blackhawks.

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The teams which are left standing in the NHL post season play a consistent style and they look very comfortable doing so. That is probably why they are still alive in the quest for Lord Stanley. When the going gets tough they stick to their systems for the most part. Players on each club trust each other and don’t try to do too much. The same can’t be said about the Blackhawks over the previous two seasons.

Some are quick to point out that hockey isn’t a complicated sport. There aren’t as many set plays as in football or basketball and that can’t be argued. In some ways hockey is a simple game, but make no mistake, it is difficult to play consistently well. The Kings, Coyotes, Rangers and Devils all have very good goalkeeping and they have players which fit their style.

Each playoff survivor has a roster which meshes well. Each team can hide weaknesses and exploit strengths. For the Blackhawks to make a long playoff run they need to have a more defined style and a roster which allows them to excel.

Currently, it is difficult to know exactly what the Blackhawks strength is, although goal scoring would come to mind first. Last season when Joel Quenneville got his club to be more responsible on defense the scoring dropped off. Averaging two goals per game in regulation over the final two months against playoff caliber teams doesn’t scream explosive offense.

The normal course of business for NHL clubs concerning changing coaching personnel is to do so quickly once their season ends. The biggest reason is so coaches who won’t be retained are not in involved in making plans for the following season. In that way, strategy and off season wish lists are kept in house.

In Blackhawk land things can be different.

Mike Haviland was fired after exit interviews and organizational meetings were conducted. Quenneville mentioned GM Stan Bowman gave him permission to make coaching changes following the playoffs, but yet he waited. Actually, Quenneville waited so long he gave Haviland the bad news over the phone, after he had gone back home to his family.

Those wanting to connect the dots have reason to believe there was a verdict reached by Rocky Wirtz which led to releasing Haviland. It appears the Montreal head coaching vacancy may have pushed Hawk management to give Quenneville his wish to have two handpicked assistants. Wirtz could have been caught between a rock and hard place and decided keeping Quenneville was the best option for the Hawks.

Sacrificing Haviland, who had been well thought of in the organization couldn’t have been easy, but Quenneville is a proven head coach. Haviland “might” be an outstanding head coach someday and whispers indicate he was stunned when he got the news from Quenneville. As far as this summer is concerned, Haviland’s dismissal won’t be the only change for the Blackhawks.

Scuttlebutt is Hawk players aren’t happy Haviland is gone. Many times an assistant is the buffer between players and the head coach. Quenneville may have been bothered Haviland was close to many players but his dismissal is not likely to make remaining assistant Mike Kitchen any more popular.

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Let’s start off with some good news which came out of Tuesday’s media conference call after the firing of assistant coach Mike Haviland.

For all those worried about Joel Quenneville being dismissed as head coach to take the same position in Montreal, that’s not happening. Quenneville stated he wants to finish out the final two years of his contract with the Blackhawks. So Quenneville is about as secure as a head coach can be, for now.

Evidently Blackhawk management is all in on Quenneville. GM Stan Bowman determined the root of the problem last season to be some dysfunction in Quenneville’s coaching staff. Following their playoff elimination, according to Quenneville, he was given the opportunity to replace any of his assistants.

Mike Haviland, who wasn’t an original hire of Quenneville, was fired Tuesday. Interestingly, Haviland was thought to be in line for the Hawks head coaching spot once Quenneville was gone. Some would say that’s the main reason Haviland is no longer around. Others believe Quenneville deserved to pick his own coaching staff and never had the chance. Then there are some who think there was going to be a fall guy and Quenneville was never going to dump his close friend and assistant coach Mike Kitchen.

Blackhawks fans can determine for themselves or take one of the reasons above as to why Haviland was shown the door. What was certainly apparent Tuesday is Quenneville spent a great deal of time defending Kitchen.

The power play and penalty killing units were both bad last season. The power play especially was consistently awful throughout the campaign. Many had the view Kitchen was the one who designed the power play and led practices. Quenneville admitted the same and maybe that’s why he felt a compulsion to defend his buddy.

Quenneville mentioned Haviland started out directing the power play for the first 15 games. At that point, the Hawks ranked last in the league in power play efficiency and Quenneville gave the assignment to Kitchen. That means through the next 67 regular season games and six in the playoffs, it was Kitchen who was mostly responsible for the power play. That would be mostly accountable for the power play of the assistants, because head coach Quenneville is ultimately responsible for everything.

The Blackhawks power play, except for a brief period ranked close to the bottom of the league. For the regular season, the Hawks ranked 26th out of 30 teams. They scored only one time out of 19 opportunities during the postseason. Maybe that’s why Quenneville spent much of the time defending Kitchen on Tuesday citing that his character shouldn’t be questioned.

Quenneville was bothered by the criticism Kitchen has taken from fans and media alike during the season. That’s understandable but measured on performance, Kitchen could easily be taken to task.

Quenneville was careful not to lay the blame completely on Haviland. That was wise considering Haviland apparently was only chiefly responsible for the power play for 15 games. Quenneville did make one admission, and he would have been wrong not to do so. He admitted he stuck with the same players too often on the power play. Quenneville seems to be implying that some entitlement has entered into the thinking of certain players.

It sounds good to say power play should be earned. It also makes sense for Quenneville to share the blame because no matter how much his assistants had to do with designing the power play structure it is Quenneville’s job to put the players on the ice. Although it is not Quenneville’s job to create the roster, that’s on GM Bowman.

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When players don’t perform adequately the results are obvious and there is little mystery. When a team’s shortcomings are brought about by mismanagement the cause of problems isn’t as apparent. In the NHL when a head coach and GM aren’t on the same page and a plan of action appears scattered, eventually on ice results suffer. In this case, bickering may have already led to poor results.

For teams already eliminated from the NHL playoffs, this should be a time to look ahead for better days. The best scenario is when fans can easily ascertain a definable plan for the future so they can stay engaged in the process. Today, Blackhawk fans should be looking ahead with optimism, but that is easier said than done.

Currently, the Blackhawk franchise isn’t beaming with confidence and gushing with enthusiasm. It stands to reason fans which pay close attention are having doubts, and some must wonder if this strong core of elite talent will ever win another Stanley Cup. If reports are accurate, Joel Quenneville and Stan Bowman aren’t seeing eye to eye.

On Sunday night in front of a large hockey audience, the Hawks front office was exposed as being in disarray. The word of apparent turmoil was relayed on the CBC Hotstove telecast. That’s not the place to have a franchise image sullied. A comparison would be to have a Fortune 500 company receive negative press on 60 Minutes.

Owner Rocky Wirtz and others in the Hawks front office must have cringed. Those who have watched things unfold, or who speak to contacts close to the situation, couldn’t have been surprised. That said, if scattered management prevents this club from achieving on-ice success it would be a waste. Many won’t realize how good the collection of talent presently assembled is until we speak of current players in past tense.

Instead of Blackhawk fans looking toward the June Entry Draft and the July 1 free agent signing period as hope for improvement, there is uncertainty. It will take more than skillful players to win another Stanley Cup, it will take a well-structured team. Without coaches and the front office following the same script, long playoff runs will be unlikely.

As was written here about a week ago, this is the time for Wirtz to be a true leader. He must end the disputes and stifle the criticism that will harm the Blackhawks brand. It’s not as if Rocky isn’t familiar with dysfunction, red ink, sparse crowds and a lack of media attention. Wirtz knows how awful it is to be connected with a franchise that is the subject of constant criticism and failed expectations.

Wirtz must try to get the Hawks back in balance and under the current structure that won’t be easy. Every misstep could cost Wirtz financially and he already has done his share of eating bloated contracts.

At first blush, to have the strong voice of the legendary Scotty Bowman on board sounds like a great idea. Although when the GM and the club’s chief advisor always side together, the head coach could be in a more difficult spot. Battling a father and son duo isn’t an easy task.

During the Hotstove telecast on Sunday night, the possibility of Quenneville leaving the Hawks and becoming the next Canadiens head coach was discussed. On the surface, this option seems like a quick-fix to the Quenneville-Bowman saga and a way to save some money for Wirtz.

The cost savings would involve Wirtz not having to eat the last part of Quenneville’s contract, which is two more years most likely. New Montreal GM Marc Bergevin and Quenneville are friends, so it is natural for dots to be connected.

These days in the NHL there couldn’t be a player or other compensation sent to Chicago if Quenneville jumped ship to Montreal. Simply, the Hawks would have to fire Q. and then he would be allowed to take the bench boss job in Montreal.

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Blackhawk fans looking for some real change may enjoy this summer. For the first time since the 2010 Stanley Cup parade there appears to be a solid chance a core player will be dealt. If my source is correct, and he has been frequently in the past, third line center Dave Bolland is on the trading block.

It isn’t a big shock Bolland is the one made available out of the untouchable seven (Bolland, Hossa, Kane, Keith, Seabrook, Sharp and Toews). My view has been it will be unlikely any of the core group will be traded unless there are going to be major changes on West Madison Street. It would seem unlikely trading Bolland alone would be enough to cure the Hawks woes. Actually losing his experience could create other issues.

If Bolland is traded there would be a sizeable hole to fill and it isn’t a lock anyone on the current roster could excel in his role. Marcus Kruger may continue to improve or maybe not. Highly thought of prospect Phillip Danault is very young and unproven at the NHL level. Trading Bolland is risky but the Hawks will have to give to get. At this point it is unclear what GM Stan Bowman is trying to get in return.

Dealing Bolland for a second line center makes some sense, although Bowman appears to have Patrick Kane penciled in for that role. Maybe that isn’t so and Bowman was only posturing at his recent press conference. It also seems logical the Hawks will have to sweeten the pot if they are in the market for a proven pivot.

Bolland will be a sought after because of his ability to shut down top offensive players, but quality second line centers don’t grow on trees. Maybe the end game for the Hawks is to strengthen a couple of positional needs or to open up more salary cap space to pursue free agents.

Bowman can go in a few different directions. If Bolland is dealt for a defenseman, maybe the Hawks don’t pursue free agent Johnny Oduya. Possibly Niklas Hjalmarsson or Viktor Stalberg will be included in a trade package as Bowman might want to make a bigger splash.

It is early, actually earlier than usual for these types of trade rumors. It appears Hawk management realizes first round exits are failures and now there is some urgency. Maybe trading a popular player like Bolland will lead to a major free agent signing. There are a couple of big name, unrestricted free agents that could help many clubs.

Early speculation has the Blackhawks in the (b)Ryan Suter(b) sweepstakes, and he would be a huge acquisition.  Nashville will want to retain upcoming UFA Suter who is normally paired with Shea Weber to form one of the best defensive duos in the league.

If the Suter-to-Chicago rumblings are true, Hawk fans may feel like they are about to enter the twilight zone.

Brian Campbell was traded to Florida last summer in a transaction that can be simply defined as a salary dump. Campbell is a $7.1 million salary cap hit and is signed through 2015-2016. Suter will probably get similar money and should want at least a five year commitment if he leaves Nashville.
 
Call me cynical but that puts the Blackhawks in a similar cap position as they were in before Campbell was dealt. No doubt Suter is a better all-around defenseman, but Campbell was a nice fit here considering his puck rushing ability.

Maybe Blackhawk management finally realizes Campbell’s departure left too big of a hole on the blue line. If so, this summer they may commit a sizable amount of cap space to fix the problem. Beyond roster changes a Suter acquisition could mean the Hawks are going to look to play a more conservative system.

There are two overriding questions concerning Suter’s future in Nashville. Will the Predators want to have three $7 million players on their roster? Does Suter actually want to stay in Nashville?

The answer to question one is probably yes, Weber is up soon for a big raise and Pekka Rinne has already signed a lucrative contract extension. My gut feeling is the correct response for question two is Suter will want to move on. Possibly if the Preds make it the Stanley Cup Finals Suter will be more likely to stay. Then again, maybe he is already set on looking for a big market home and there are reasons Chicago could be his choice.

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Possibly expectations were too high last season and now my judgment is clouded with disenchantment. Maybe, but it seems the Blackhawks wouldn’t be the current favorite out of recent winners to hoist the Cup again the soonest.

Little was made clear at last week’s post-mortem media day when Stan Bowman and Joel Quenneville commented on the failed season. The picture painted was cloudy. The GM pointed his finger at coaching and the head coach threw unnamed players under the bus. What remains to be seen is who owner Rocky Wirtz finds at fault.

As presently constructed, the Blackhawks are stuck in the middle. It is apparent leadership with a specific plan needs to surface. The Hawks are somewhat in a state of flux and Wirtz might have to be the one to put the franchise back on a Stanley Cup course.

What should happen before one free agent is signed or a trade pulled off, is for management to establish what kind of team they want to become.

The Blackhawks were not good enough to play air tight defense and consistently win low scoring games. If the Hawks concentrate on shoring up defensive shortcomings their offense seems to suffer. At least that was the case against Western Conference playoff teams in the final two months of the season.

Nashville and Los Angeles win during the regular season and in the playoffs by playing low scoring games. It is more difficult to win in the postseason by relying on outscoring opponents like Philadelphia does, but they are doing fine this year. Washington has transformed itself into a defensive oriented team from their high flying, gamble and score often mentality.

Different styles of play can work but what doesn’t do well is when a team can’t stay consistent. Unfortunately that describes the 2011-2012 Blackhawks, unable to bring the same type of effective effort game after game.

Quenneville seems as if he doesn’t want to change very much, but then again he does waiver. GM Bowman needs to acquire players who complement each other, but a specific direction must be defined.

Bowman and Quenneville need to get on the same page or not much will be accomplished this summer. For now, it appears neither is able to admit any wrong doing. That leads us to Wirtz who can’t be too happy and like most of us must be a little confused.

Many Hawk fans are bewildered but maybe the best hope is Rocky will be more anxious to admit mistakes than either Quenneville or Bowman. After all, the biggest loser is Wirtz if playoff disappointment keeps happening and the Hawks buzz goes quiet.

The Blackhawks may not have to fight as hard next season for Chicago media attention after the unfortunate injury to the Bulls Derrick Rose. The Bulls disappointment shouldn’t mean the Hawks front office will be content with recent results. Those who want to believe the wait list for season tickets is endless and the United Center will be sold out for decades have short memories.

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Some Hawk fans are disgusted with another first round playoff exit and are looking for big changes. Quite a few have seen enough of Corey Crawford and are looking for different coaches and maybe a new GM as well. Others feel the team needs a few additions but nothing major and better days are to come. That’s the great thing about sports, everyone can have an opinion.

Back in the summer of 2010 many around the league thought the Hawks would keep Antti Niemi and most likely trade either Patrick Sharp or Dave Bolland. Some may remember Bowman called an impromptu press conference to say Sharp was not going to be dealt.

Hardly ever will a GM respond in that way over the summer. In this case it was a nice gesture to Sharp as he was about to get married. Sharp had heard the rumors and Bowman put his mind at ease and also stopped his own phone from ringing.

Earlier that summer a source told me the Blackhawk front office identified the following as their core and all would be back for the 2010-2011 season. I called the group the untouchable seven and they were; Bolland, Hossa, Kane, Keith, Seabrook, Sharp and Toews.

The chances of one of the core being traded are higher now than before, although still likely. My view is all will be back next season and when Blackhawk management mentions the core, those are the players they are referencing.

GM Stan Bowman – Joel Quenneville

My criticism of Bowman’s summer signings goes back for months. To take it a step further, Blackhawk pro scouting needs to improve as the so called “core” can’t do it alone. Bowman banked on Dan Carcillo and others to turn the personality of the Hawks into a tough team to play against. What actually happened is the Hawks became a tougher team for fans to watch as they had an inconsistent campaign.

Joel Quenneville didn’t have the best of years but roster issues made his job a more difficult task. Coach Q. wasn’t very flexible and it appeared at times he and the Hawks front office might be on different pages. There is no way to tell how much Quenneville had to do with some of last summer signings. Certainly he has more input than many head coaches and has the resume to back his opinions.

Bowman without question will be the Hawks GM come October, winning a Stanley Cup adds security, and Quenneville should be back as well. The head coaching leash on Quenneville could be shorter than in the past but he is not in a bad spot.

If the Hawks start off poorly, Quenneville could be reassigned to serve out the remainder of his contract. If Quenneville is stripped of his head coaching position and would want to leave Chicago he wouldn’t have to wait long for another job offer. Quenneville has his detractors but in a difficult season the players didn’t quit on him.

Bowman as well as Quenneville need to figure out a style of play for the Hawks. After listening to comments my feeling is they are somewhat conflicted. They both like the current team but realize changes need to be made. Bowman admitted the team is built to skate pucks over the blueline rather than to dump and chase. It could be time to acquire players who can do both.

The Blackhawks have a lot of high end talent but lack size and grit. There needs to be a blend, and Bowman and Quenneville must decide on a design and acquire players to fit into the group. Right now it is difficult to tell the extent of changes to come this summer. It wouldn’t be a shock if Bowman or Quenneville don’t yet know the exact course of action.

Corey Crawford

No doubt Corey Crawford must be better. His playoff performance reflected the entire season for the team. Crawford’s efforts were scattered, he held his own with Mike Smith until two soft goals in overtime of Game 3 and Game 4. Some will conclude Crawford lost the series because of those two softies.

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The Blackhawks threw everything they had at Smith in the opening period outshooting the Coyotes 16-2. The shot differential was a true indication of the Blackhawks dominance. The Hawks carried through with the same type of effort to start the middle frame but the Coyotes found a way to score first on a power play goal at the 13:16 mark. Once the Coyotes took the lead they never looked back.

It was a humbling ending to the Blackhawks season as they were beaten 3 times at the United Center. The Hawks scored a total of 4 goals in 3 games played on home ice. The Coyotes did an outstanding job of keeping the Hawks best players off the score sheet. The Coyotes were a problem for Chicago in the regular season and to my surprise, they were an even more difficult opponent in the playoffs.

The goal total for the Hawks top 5 regular season scorers was 3. Patrick Sharp scored 1 time and Jonathan Toews had 2 goals in the series. Marian Hossa only played in 2 full games but he was held without a point. Patrick Kane and Viktor Stalberg did not record any goals.

Smith had a big role in frustrating the top skill players but scoring issues have been a concern with the Hawks for quite awhile.

During February, March, and April, the Hawks played a total of fifteen contests versus Western Conference playoff teams. In those games the Hawks scored on average only 2 goals per game in regulation. No doubt Smith won Game 6 and had a big hand in winning the series, but the Hawks did not close out the season having a potent offense. Many might be surprised as to how little the Hawks offense produced against better competition later in the season.

The first goal for Phoenix came after Jonathan Toews was whistled for an interference penalty. In the purest sense Toews was guilty of interference as he bumped into defenseman David Schlemko at the Phoenix blueline. If Toews would have made contact with a Coyote forward instead and he went down to the ice in the same way there might not have been a penalty issued. Schlemko going down and being a defenseman, while the Hawks were advancing the puck into the Phoenix zone, may have given the referee more of a reason to send Toews to the penalty box. That call allowed Phoenix to convert on their second power play attempt on the evening.

All series, the Coyotes have been better at getting shots through from the blueline while a screen is set in front of Corey Crawford. Martin Hanzal is a big center that was able to stand directly in front of Crawford while defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson sent an on target slap shot past shot into the net.

At the time of the goal the Hawks had a 22-6 shot advantage and the period ended with the Coyotes leading 1-0. After the power play the Hawks didn’t wilt but couldn’t solve Smith. The Hawks became more aggressive and did cause some problems for Smith by setting screens and crashing the net.

In the third frame, the Blackhawks didn’t start out as well as in the opening 40 minutes. They were then guilty of standing and watching the puck while the Coyotes were in the Hawks zone. The result was a Gilbert Brule goal at 2:24 of the third frame which sucked the life out of the United Center.

The Coyotes were patient although they were getting outplayed in the opening 40 minutes. Smith bailed them out big time and allowed his club time to wait for the Hawks to give them scoring opportunities.

Before the Coyotes took a 2 goal lead, they didn’t break from their structure and never over committed in the offensive zone. After Phoenix built a 2 goal cushion they were able to become more aggressive, but still didn’t take unnecessary chances. The Coyotes spent quite a bit of time in the offensive zone during the third period and Smith recorded a well-deserved shutout.

Joel Quenneville commented after Game 6 that the turning point in the series was losing Marian Hossa. No doubt Hossa is someone the Hawks couldn’t replace but the Coyotes suffered some injuries as well.

Maybe the outcome would have been different if Hossa was healthy and able to perform in the entire series. Maybe the Blackhawks would have defeated the Coyotes if Smith was average instead of great. Both points could be made, although we will never know for sure.

What is apparent is the Blackhawks couldn’t put forth an effective effort throughout any contest in the series. The Hawks had games where they played better than Phoenix over 40 minutes, like Monday night, but they didn’t carry the same effort over 3 periods.

The Coyotes didn’t appear to find a magic formula to start the playoffs. They were simply doing the same things that allowed them to qualify for the post season. Phoenix’s bench boss Dave Tippett outcoached Quenneville in this regard; he kept his group playing more consistent hockey throughout.

All season long my impression of the Blackhawks was they were too comfortable. They weren’t as good as their record indicated before Christmas and they struggled when injuries started happening in January.

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In the case of the Blackhawks, putting out effort isn’t necessarily the same as trying hard. Now almost a day doesn’t go by without some in local media as well as Hawk fans feeling disgust because this group seemingly brings a part time performance. As some would say, the Blackhawks don’t care enough until their backs are to the wall.

That type of thinking is reasonable, to a degree, but in reality putting forth effort isn’t the issue. The problem is this team exhibits the wrong type of effort, so even though they are trying hard the results aren’t as consistent as most fans would like. In the playoffs, more so than a Tuesday night in January versus Edmonton, the players are focused. They are trying their hardest to win but sometimes not working together in a way to have the most opportunity for success.

The Blackhawks as a team still struggle for an identity. Their current roster doesn’t give them the opportunity to consistently win in the same way as when they won the Stanley Cup. A different style of play is needed, one not only based on speed and pretty plays.

The game has changed in the last few years, penalties are called differently and teams must be able to crash and bang to win. Even a top skill level club like Washington has changed the way it plays because regular season success didn’t lead to long playoff runs.

Over last summer I heard a recorded interview with Scotty Bowman. He was asked if he was surprised the Washington Capitals had so much trouble winning in the playoffs. Bowman commented he really wasn’t surprised because the Capitals could win games with offensive skill alone in the regular season. So when they needed to play a tight checking-style they would have problems, like in the playoffs. When the going got tough they resorted to what helped them win during the season. The same type of effort didn’t work in a playoff series.

Bowman, who is a senior advisor for the Hawks, made reference to winning without the correct effort. Correct effort or effective effort is what the Blackhawks sometimes lack. Over the course of this season, Joel Quenneville and some players have admitted the same. Interestingly, this year it finally appears the Capitals can play an effective style in the playoffs.

When the Hawks began this season, they were winning although not playing the way the coaching staff was instructing them. It’s not easy for coaches to make a point about playing differently when a club is still having success. Human nature dictates and if the wrong type of effort isn’t followed by a bad consequence, it is more difficult to change behavior. The Hawks changed moreso after their nine game losing streak.

When the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup, they could win in a variety of ways. They could chip pucks in and retrieve them, they were fast and strong along the boards. Most often they would skate pucks into the offensive zone and look to quicken the pace. Eventually the Hawks would wear down an opponent because of their depth and high skill level. The Cup-winning team had the physical ability and net presence to score from close in and that is a must in today’s NHL.

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When everything is on the line Jonathan Toews doesn’t blink. The Hawks captain won a faceoff in overtime, captured the puck and headed to the net. Toews didn’t hesitate and ripped a high shot just inside the post and over Mike Smith’s right shoulder. It was a true goal scorer’s type of goal as there was only the smallest part of net open, but for Toews it wasn’t a problem.

The Blackhawks came out and played a very good opening period but couldn’t sustain the same type of effort in the middle frame. The Hawks defensemen were trying to get involved in the offense and were being aggressive to join the rush. That’s a fine strategy as long as the Hawk defenders use their best judgment when to commit to a play in the offensive zone.

Unfortunately, with the play in front of him, Niklas Hjalmarsson moved in along the board as all three Hawks forwards were below the faceoff circles. The Coyotes got the puck before Sami Lepisto could gain control and they had a three on one scoring attempt. Phoenix forward Gilbert Brulet made no mistake and beat Corey Crawford with a slap shot from the faceoff circle to give the Coyotes an early second period 1-0 lead.

After getting the lead the Coyotes had the Hawks on the ropes and if not for some strong play from Crawford the series could have ended in the desert. The defensive zone coverage was spotty and players were standing still watching the puck, but the Hawks regained their poise. Both goaltenders played very good games, but it was Crawford who had more to prove and he did.

Joel Quenneville is in all out desperation mode, as he should be, and is looking for any edge possible. The Hawks bench boss used line combinations that were seldom if ever seen in the regular season.

Quenneville was looking to key off of players who have been doing well. So Bryan Bickell skated with Toews and Viktor Stalberg. The line generated scoring chances but Stalberg had a careless game and was whistled four times for minor penalties. Fortunately the Chicago penalty killers, led by Dave Bolland and Michael Frolik who both had strong games, didn’t allow a Coyote goal in four power play attempts. Brendan Morrison stayed in the Hawks lineup and skated on the checking line with Bolland and Stalberg.

Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp were teamed with rookie Brandon Saad but the trio didn’t do much in the way of generating offense. Sharp has not been the offensive force the Hawks have needed. Kane had another poor game, following a subpar performance in Game 4. Kane doesn’t usually follow one bad game with another but he did on Saturday.

Give the Coyotes credit as they have frustrated the Hawks best players, especially Kane, and have made them work hard for scoring chances. The Hawks still haven’t been able to generate many rebounds on Smith although they did have more traffic around the net.

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On April 11, I wrote the following and stand by those comments today:

“An early exit by the Hawks would highlight a roster with holes, which can’t be coached effectively. Another opening round defeat would be a much bigger setback than last year’s loss to Vancouver. It would be a black eye which would stain the franchise and lessen the fan and media buzz that started before the 2010 Stanley Cup victory. In many ways, falling to the Coyotes would be as bad as not qualifying for post-season play at all.”

In Game 4 the Blackhawks played some of their best hockey of the series in the opening 40 minutes. The Hawks were able to play in a scoreless game while staying patient for the most part, at least until the third period. Corey Crawford was strong when called upon, but the Coyotes’ Mike Smith was a real difference maker for the first time in the series. The Hawks sent 23 shots his way but couldn’t solve Smith until the third frame. In the end Smith should get a gold star and be given much of the credit for the victory.

As the game wore on many of the bad habits the Hawks have been guilty of throughout this series and for the entire season surfaced. This should make fans question the type of team which was assembled and their ability to be coached.

Again there was too much perimeter play and individual efforts by the Hawks’ top players. Thursday night, it was Patrick Kane, more than anyone else, who tried to do too much on his own and accomplished little. Kane failed to get shots off in prime scoring areas and was repeatedly knocked off the puck as he tried to go to the net. In Game 4 too many plays ended with Kane and the Blackhawks quickly out of the offensive zone.

The Hawks were guilty of turnovers in their own end and were outworked along the boards. Defenseman Johnny Oduya has had a bad series and last night was another poor performance. Oduya appeared to be skating in slow motion when the Coyotes Shane Doan stripped him of the puck and eventually scored the first tally for Phoenix. Oduya not only coughed the puck up in his own zone but was slow to get back to cover the front of the net. Oduya has gone from one of the best Hawk defenders down the stretch to a liability.

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The Hawks will be playing on home ice for the next two games but thus far, they haven’t played that great in total. There have been flashes of solid, effective effort but it hasn’t been sustained. The Coyotes have had something to do with the inconsistency but there is no doubt the Hawks can ramp things up to another level. Tuesday night is the time to shake the will of the Coyotes.

Corey Crawford has played well enough to win both games. His performance in Game 2 exceeded goalie Mike Smith’s effort and should bolster Crawford’s confidence. By scoring four times on Saturday, including another last second third period tally, the Hawks should be riding high. The Blackhawks will be charged up by a capacity United Center crowd but must avoid being too emotional and becoming undisciplined. So far, except for the Andrew Shaw fiasco, the Hawks have kept their discipline.

Smith hasn’t appeared shaken but he hasn’t really been a difference maker so far. The Coyotes have done a fine job of frustrating the top Blackhawk scorers. Fortunately the Hawks depth was the difference on Saturday. If Crawford can build on the last two games he might be able to get on a nice run.

This is the time for the Blackhawks to put the hammer down and steamroll the Coyotes. It will only happen by having more passion and “want to” than Phoenix. The table is set for the Hawks to break the will of the Coyotes, who probably feel like they should have won both of their home games. If the Hawks could control Tuesday night’s contest and come away with a convincing victory, some doubt may enter the collective psyche of the Coyotes.

The Blackhawks have issues but they are also an extremely competitive group with high-end talent.

To be successful in the playoffs it boils down to having the will to overcome. For the Hawks, that would mean winning despite a poor power play. In addition, despite losing too many faceoffs and not blocking enough shots the Hawks must find a way to succeed. Careless turnovers have to be limited as do soft goals and if they occur they can’t be the reason for a loss. It all sounds easy but that is hardly the case, but the Blackhawks are in a position to succeed and they should embrace the challenge.

If what has been worked on in practice this week holds true for Tuesday night’s game, Joel Quenneville plans on changing line combinations.

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It was looking like the hockey gods abandoned the Blackhawks for the second consecutive game. The Hawks had to battle the well-coached Coyotes and couldn’t seem to get any favorable bounces. Also, as in Game 1, the men in stripes had a poor outing and a suspect decision led to a power play goal for Phoenix. There will be more to come on NHL officiating and its inconsistencies.

Saturday night’s encounter had some similarities to Game 1.

The Hawks took a lot of shots but didn’t have a great amount of top quality scoring chances against Mike Smith. The Coyotes were successful in forcing some turnovers and at times the Hawks had trouble getting out of their own zone. Once again the Coyotes did a fine job of keeping the best Hawk players off the scoresheet. Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp and Jonathan Toews combined for only one goal.

What was not the same is the Blackhawks depth made the difference and Crawford definitely outplayed Smith. Bryan Bickell recorded two goals, including the game winner. Viktor Stalberg skated much of the game with Dave Bolland and Bickell and those three formed the Hawks best line. The trio combined for 13 of the Hawks 50 shots on goal. Bolland and Stalberg were each credited with assists.

In Game 2, the Blackhawks were more physical and head Coach Joel Quenneville was back to normal. Coach Q. was flip-flopping players trying to find the most effective line combination. In the end, the main reason the Hawks succeeded was they paid better attention to details and more players were committed to working hard. The Hawks have the deeper squad on paper but it only matters if everyone is on the same page and comes to play with a complete effort.

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The Coyotes were outplayed badly in the opening 15 minutes Thursday night but when all was said and done, they put forth the more complete effort. The Blackhawks were beaten 3-2 in overtime, in a game that was theirs for the taking.

It would be understandable after watching Thursday night’s contest to come away with the impression the Coyotes are a team the Hawks should handle. They aren’t very flashy, although they have some young players who are highly skilled. What matters most to their head coach Dave Tippett is that his club takes care of the details and finds a way to win close games, which is exactly what happened.

The really disappointing fact about the Blackhawks losing Game 1 was they were in the contest although they didn’t play nearly as well as they could. Phoenix was the better club for the majority of the night, but mostly because not enough Blackhawks showed up with an effective full-time effort. Joel Quenneville commented the same in his postgame interview.

Quenneville didn’t mention any names but he probably was thinking Marian Hossa, Patrick Sharp, Johnny Oduya, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Sean O’Donnell and the entire fourth line were of little help. In the case of Hossa, Sharp, and Oduya, their performances could be categorized as simply bad. There were other players like Patrick Kane, Viktor Stalberg and Bryan Bickell who weren’t as good as they can be. A spotty team performance won’t normally be good enough when playing the hard-working Coyotes.

Tippett, in his postgame remarks, complimented his team for finding a way to win without leading goal scorer Radim Vrbata. The winger was injured early in the opening period. It has been speculated Vrbata may have suffered a concussion coming on an Andrew Shaw check. Losing Vrbata after playing only 30 seconds could have been a deciding factor. On a club that doesn’t score much, Vrbata had 35 markers, 11 more than the next highest Coyote. There hasn’t been any official word on Vrbata’s injury status other than to list him as day to day.

The Blackhawks didn’t take care of the details. It appeared poor shift changes caused the Hawks problems on the first two Coyote tallies. Unfortunately, some old Blackhawks bad habits of turning the puck over in their own zone happened too often. Then the follow up was to get mesmerized by the puck and chase the Coyotes, which also happened often.

Although the Hawks had 45 shots on goal, there wasn’t enough traffic in front of Smith. The game-tying goal by Brent Seabrook was off a goal mouth battle but the same effort wasn’t there most of the night. Throughout the middle frame and in much of the third period the Coyotes outworked the Blackhawks.

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The Blackhawks will fail if they get outworked and can’t stay disciplined. The Coyotes will look to frustrate them and capitalize on mistakes. Chicago won’t be able to play jail break hockey and disregard defensive responsibilities, that won’t work. The Coyotes want to turn the Hawks into a group of individuals who play perimeter hockey. As has been apparent this season, if executed, that plan can make the Hawks look bad. What will be necessary is to stay patient, manage the puck and avoid getting frustrated. If as a group the Blackhawks can play effective hockey it won’t be a question of if they win the series but rather how long it will take.

With or without Jonathan Toews the Hawks should not lose a best of seven series to Phoenix. There shouldn’t be any excuses made if they fail to advance even if Toews can’t perform. If the Blackhawks don’t take care of business versus Phoenix, it shouldn’t be viewed as a stumble but more of a flop.

An early exit by the Hawks would highlight a roster with holes which can’t be coached effectively. Another opening round defeat would be a much bigger setback than last year’s loss to Vancouver. It would be a black eye which would stain the franchise and lessen the fan and media buzz that started before the 2010 Stanley Cup victory. In many ways, falling to the Coyotes would be as bad as not qualifying for post-season play at all.

Call me an optimist but the Blackhawks probably still haven’t played their best hockey. They can win versus the Coyotes with the same type of effort as in the last five weeks of the season. If an even better version of the Hawks show up in Phoenix on Thursday night, this series could be a short one. If that were to happen, it would bode well for a long playoff run. First things first, if the Hawks don’t show the Coyotes the respect they deserve, this could become a long battle.

So there isn’t any misunderstanding, I hold the Coyotes in high regard, probably more so than most. Head coach Dave Tippett is one of the best in the game. He probably does a better job of winning consistently by instilling a solid team structure than any other bench boss in the NHL. To say Tippet makes the most out of a little would not be an exaggeration. The Coyotes gain my respect because they play a true team game. That said, if both clubs play near their capabilities the Hawks will advance.

The angst concerning the Blackhawks chances center around the health of Toews and the inconsistency of Corey Crawford.

Toews is one of the best hockey players in the world and if healthy will help the Hawks a great deal. He will also show some rust. Being out for 22 games and coming back at the most stressful time in the season won’t be easy, but Toews at only 70 percent can still make a significant difference.

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As some might realize the Coyotes play a similar type of game as the Predators who have given the Hawks fits.Nashvilleand the Coyotes aren’t identical, the Predators score more goals. No doubt there are some strong similarities as each team has solid goalkeeping and they play a structured game. Maybe to the surprise of some, the Coyotes have allowed six fewer goals than the Predators this season.

The team which survives and is crowned Western Conference Champion will probably benefit from the following. The club going to represent the West in the Stanley Cup Finals will need to not suffer a significant injury. The match-ups are so close this year that one injury could sway the outcome. Another factor which will play a big role in deciding the Conference representative is they will probably have to play in at least one shorter series.

Playoff hockey is a battle of attrition and often the team that wins the Cup plays in the fewest playoff games. It should also be noted, only two clubs,NashvilleandDetroitwill benefit from an opening round series which will involve short flight times.

Here are my thoughts on Western Conference match-ups. The teams listed first have home ice advantage in the opening round.

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Any win against the Red Wings is a good win and Hawk fans can look forward to the playoffs beginning later this week. In essence capturing the two points didn’t help Chicago but it did prevent Detroit from moving up to fourth place. The Red Wings are now forced to open the playoffs in Nashville.

On a sour note, the Hawks couldn’t hold a 2-0 lead. The Wings tied the game with 46 seconds left in regulation and then were held scoreless in the shootout. Patrick Kane scored another shootout, highlight reel goal enabling the Blackhawks to finish the season with 101 points.

Corey Crawford was the main reason the Hawks held a lead for much of the game. Unfortunately, Crawford let in a soft goal at 8:11 of the third period to allow the Wings to get on the scoreboard. As has often been the case this season, Crawford played well for the most part but was exposed by a weak goal. This time it was a costly misplay by Crawford which marred an otherwise solid performance.

Blackhawk fans certainly are not without trepidation as the playoffs are about to begin. There are questions surrounding the goaltending, the health of Jonathan Toews and a miserable power play to name only a few issues. What shouldn’t be doubted is the Blackhawks are a club with a lot of heart and they usually compete hard. The Hawks have enough high end talent to be a problem for any team in the post season.

It is time to give Blackhawk players, coaching staff and front office their due as many teams would have folded by playing so long without arguably their best player. Instead of sliding out of the playoff picture and calling it a season ruined by bad luck, the Hawks rallied without their captain. This group not only accepted the challenge but excelled without Toews. During his 22 game absence, the Hawks posted a sparkling 13-5-4 record.

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Last year, Minnesota won their final game which enabled the Blackhawks to squeak into the playoffs. This season the Wild didn’t record a point versus Chicago in their first two meetings. This week they finally got some revenge by capturing two shootout victories. By doing so the Wild did their part in preventing the Hawks from enjoying a home ice advantage during the opening round of the playoffs.

The Hawks dominated early but did not capitalize on opportunities. There were some old bad habits which became apparent as the game wore on. After the first period the older version Blackhawks took to the ice and the results were disappointing.

It seemed like the Blackhawks chalked up this game as a win after the first period. The Hawks came out in the second frame and were too casual. They didn’t have the intensity needed to succeed and the Chicago power play failed to fire repeatedly. Minnesota found their skating legs and became the better team.

The Wild collapsed around their net and kept the Blackhawk attack out on the perimeter. The Hawks didn’t have the willingness to drive to the net. Minnesota goaltender Josh Harding wasn’t called on for many difficult saves after the opening period. The numbers don’t lie, after a 10 shot first period the Hawks managed only 13 strikes for the rest of the night. Crawford saved the day in the third frame when Minnesota outshot the Hawks eight to one.

Although the Hawks probably got what they deserved there was a questionable no goal call in the third period. It appeared Bryan Bickell tipped in a Niklas Hjalmarsson shot. When the puck went in, the referee closest to the play indicated by pointing at the net that it was a good goal. Afterwards the officials huddled and evidently ruled the puck was deflected in with a high stick.

The play was then reviewed by the War Room in Toronto. This type of video review is seldom overturned as it is very difficult to tell for sure how high the player’s stick was in relationship to the cross bar when the puck was deflected. In this case, because the call on the ice was no goal, there wasn’t enough evidence on the video review to reverse the original call.

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Hockey like other professional sports is always a challenge to figure out. Although the Blackhawks have been without Toews, Steve Montador, Duncan Keith and other significant players they have held serve, actually that would be an understatement. Despite being shorthanded, the Hawks have played their best hockey of the season.

So how did the Hawks improve their game without Toews and others?

The most important change for the Hawks over the last six weeks was their mindset.

The players have finally accepted the messages that head coach Joel Quenneville has seemingly preached all season. Maybe it was the stark reality of failure during the nine game losing streak. For the first four months of the season this club seemed to get by, but didn’t necessarily play the correct way. The Hawks would give up bad goals but still be able to outscore opponents.

The emphasis by players was to look for more goals as that’s the solution they knew to get out of trouble. Lessons are often more difficult to learn without failure. Human nature leads us to rely on what has worked in the past and often that is the easiest path to take as well. Staying on the same course, especially considering all the injuries and the suspension to Keith, would have spelled real trouble for the Blackhawks.

There appears to have been a collective realization by the players that unless defensive coverage was made a priority they could miss the playoffs. The Hawks have finally found how to become a team which is hard to play against. When they have the puck they are holding onto it longer by simplifying their game and are more aware in all three zones. The club has become more physical by working harder along the boards. The Hawks for the most part haven’t stayed out on the perimeter. They have battled for pucks and have consistently gone to scoring areas.

No doubt the addition at the trade deadline of defenseman Johnny Oduya by GM Stan Bowman was important. Oduya hasn’t been perfect but considering how much he has been relied on, his performances have been very good. Oduya has expanded his role to helping on special teams and the smooth skating defender has fit in well.

Bowman’s best trade deadline move may have been by subtraction, not addition.

Finally, Bowman and others in management came to the realization having John Scott on the roster was a mistake. The inept Scott wasn’t an effective hockey player but more of a team mascot or security blanket.

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In mid-December, the Wild sat atop the Western Conference and as the season comes to a close, they have sunk to 12th place. Scoring four times in one game doesn’t happen very often for the Wild. They have netted only 173 goals, which make them the lowest scoring team in the NHL. Lowly Columbus has scored 17 more times than Minnesota. So the Wild potting four goals versus the Hawks can almost be considered a scoring outburst.

The game is played on the ice and stats only mean so much, especially at this time of the year. In their last four games, the Wild have dropped a one goal decision to the Rangers, defeated Florida and have downed the Kings and Blackhawks in a shootout. Not too shabby for a bunch of players that will be heading to the golf course in about a week.

Before Minnesota closes out their season, they will have a say in playoff rankings. This week, the Wild will face the Predators on Tuesday and then head home. They will finish up the season with the Hawks and then the Coyotes. The Wild took advantage of the less than focused Blackhawks and could be a pesky opponent later this week.

NHL officiating can be spotty and that description would be complimentary to Sunday night’s crew. Maybe the subpar officiating helped to create some excitement for the 21,576 in attendance, but this was the type of game where players could be easily injured.

Wild forward Dany Heatley slashed Patrick Kane on the left hand/wrist area in the opening minutes. Kane went to the bench in some pain and there wasn’t a penalty issued to Heatley. The chippy play continued and helped lead to a couple of fights later on. Minnesota may be out of the playoffs but their players still have pride and obviously are not quitting early on the season.

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Not to belabor all the possibilities, but with the victory the Hawks are guaranteed a playoff spot for the fourth consecutive season. If my math is correct, the Blackhawks will not finish lower than a sixth seed. They could possibly move up to fourth place in the Western Conference and have home ice to start the playoffs. Detroit and Chicago have 97 points each but the Red Wings have played one less game. With only three games remaining the Predators have one more point than the Hawks and sit in fourth place. So it is possible the sixth place Blackhawks could finish higher.

At this point what is more important than where the Blackhawks will finish is how they are playing.

Since Jonathan Toews has been injured the club has found a more committed mindset to playing effective hockey in all three zones. That’s the very good news, and is the reason this club has done so well despite dealing with many injuries. The not so good news is the Blackhawks can’t seem to play with a continuous top effort throughout most games. That’s why seemingly easy victories, like Saturday night, turn into nail biters. That’s also why the club has yet to record a shutout on the season.

In any sport top teams are those who are most consistent. Night after night, game after game the best clubs find a way to perform at a reliable, high level. The Blackhawks can beat any team, but they aren’t talented enough to win with a part time effective effort.

As a group, the Hawks have a strong will to win, to go along with a handful of players with elite talent. That in itself leads them to be consistently inconsistent, but in many games still good enough to win. The Blackhawks roster does have some holes, so no lead should be taken for granted.

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Corey Crawford came up with big stops when it counted but the second St. Louis goal should have been saved. Those who want to be more critical could suggest Crawford should have prevented the first Blues tally as well. What can’t be questioned is Crawford was the better goaltender in the shootout and gave his club the opportunity to chalk up another home ice victory over the Blues. St. Louis has not won at the UC since February 3, 2010.

The Blackhawks top players were solid as was basically the entire squad. That’s not to say Nick Leddy didn’t have some rough moments or the Hawks were error free in their own zone. In any regard, given the injury situation and the level of competition, that’s about as good of a performance the home team can muster. The Blackhawks controlled the pace of the game and their 40-20 shot advantage was indicative of a strong effort.

Every line performed well versus the Blues but Marcus Kruger and his crew had an especially strong game. Winger Viktor Stalberg followed Tuesday night’s fine outing with an even better showing Thursday night. Stalberg is more responsible with the puck and has developed some nice chemistry with fellow linemate Patrick Sharp. The effective contributions from Kruger and Stalberg set up some interesting possibilities.

After dealing with holes in his roster for the entire season, head coach Joel Quenneville finally has a nice “problem” on his hands.

During a SiriusXM interview Thursday, a question was asked as to whether Patrick Kane should stay at center when Jonathan Toews returns. Toews is supposedly set to be cleared for contact soon and it is possible he could play in the final two games of the season. My answer was Kane should stay at center and maybe Kruger would then move down to be the fourth line pivot. Actually Kruger could play a wing position on the third line as well.

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With Ray Emery out with an undisclosed upper body injury it was important for a confident, in control Crawford to make an appearance on Tuesday evening. Another subpar effort would not have bolstered Crawford’s confidence, but he was solid while facing boyhood idol Martin Brodeur.

If not for their future first ballot Hall of Fame goaltender, the Devils would have been beaten on home ice. Brodeur was the difference as the Hawks had many good scoring chances. The Blackhawks deserved a better fate but for the most part, the correct effort was in place.

The Chicago defensive zone coverage was shaky at times and Marian Hossa had a below average performance but the Hawks persevered. The checking line of Andrew Shaw, Dave Bolland and Bryan Bickell played well. Viktor Stalberg had a strong outing and recorded a game high seven shots on goal.

Brent Seabrook was in good form and Nick Leddy came through with a better effort. Former Devil Johnny Oduya started out a bit jittery but got better as the game went on. Oduya led all players with 29:56 of ice time and was credited with three blocked shots.

Seabrook connected for the Hawks lone goal but it was hard work by Shaw and Bickell plus a nice pinch-in by Niklas Hjalmarsson that led to the tally. Bolland sent a nice pass to Seabrook who beat Brodeur with a slap shot.

Defenseman Steve Montador was back in action after a 22 game absence due to a concussion. Montador skated at wing on the fourth line and only played seven shifts accounting for 4:20 of ice time. Maybe Montador would have played more but he got roughed up near the Devils net and only skated one shift in the final frame.

It is safe to say Joel Quenneville isn’t thrilled with the performances of forwards Michal Frolik and Brendan Morrison. Quenneville could have played Montador on defense and used either Frolik or Morrison on the fourth line. It’s not like Dylan Olsen or Sean O’Donnell is playing so well they can’t be taken out of the lineup but Coach Q. thought differently.

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With the win, Nashville is now four points ahead of Chicago and it isn’t as likely the two clubs will meet in the opening round of the playoffs. That’s probably a good thing for the Blackhawks as they have been able to capture only one point in five games versus the Predators.

These days due to an injury to Jonathan Toews and a suspension to Duncan Keith, the Hawks have to manage without both. That in itself is a tremendous challenge and to win, the Hawks must be able to adapt. Nashville was without Martin Erat, who is one of their top forwards, but they stuck to what they do best. On Sunday night, the Predators once again brought out the worst in the Blackhawks.

Imagine the Hawks as an expensive sports car with wide, low profile tires trying to move rapidly down a snow covered road. The speedy car is capable of traveling at excessive speeds but the snow prohibits it from travelling any faster than an old jalopy. The Predators are able to take the speed out of the Blackhawk attack as they effectively shut down their offense.

There is really only one way to succeed against a solid checking team with an outstanding goaltender and that is to keep things simple. In this case, the Hawks would need to get into the Predators zone by chipping or dumping the puck in behind the Nashville defense. Then the Hawk forwards must work hard to retrieve the puck and look to create scoring chances by going to the Predators’ net. After the Predators top pairing of Shea Weber and Ryan Sutter, their defense has some holes.

Sunday night, the Hawks didn’t do what was needed to succeed versus Nashville and as a result, their own vulnerabilities were exposed. Except for Andrew Shaw and a couple of shifts from the fourth line, goaltender Pekka Rinne was left unbothered. The Blackhawks forwards were kept out on the dreaded perimeter and as a result their offense was ineffective.

The Chicago forwards kept trying to skate into the offensive zone but to no avail. The Nashville defensive structure was so solid the Hawks could not get through center ice with much speed. The Predators were waiting for the Hawks at their blueline and did a fine job of not allowing Patrick Kane and others to create scoring chances. Eventually Hawk players tried to do too much on their own and that sealed their fate.

Even if everyone were healthy, the Hawks will lose to quality teams if they didn’t keep the game simple and work hard. Clubs like Nashville, St. Louis, Dallas, Los Angeles and Phoenix who pride themselves on air tight defensive coverage will pose a difficult challenge. Once again, the Predators made it look simple while facing the Blackhawks and the score was an indication of their dominance.

The Chicago power play can be best described as abysmal.

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