Game 2 Recap Blog: Blackhawks In A 2-0 Hole, Its Always Darkest Before The Dawn

Good morning, and a VERY Happy Easter to everyone in the congregation. On this Holy Sunday I’d like to share with you a story of redemption. A story of resurrection. A story of faith. Some might say that it’s the greatest story ever told. I am talking about the 2013 NHL Playoffs. The Blackhawks were dead in the water vs Detroit. Toews was rattled, the team couldn’t score, and the Red Wings were suffocating the Blackhawks. Toews took three straight penalties on the road, and all looked lost. And then Seabrook stepped into the box, laid hands on Toews, and that team seemed to rebound.

It took a total team effort in that series. Handzus had a big goal, Toews started scoring, Frolik had the penalty shot goal, and then it came full circle back to Seabrook in overtime of Game 7.

The Blackhawks have looked terrible so far in this series. They’re in a bad spot, but they’ve been in worse spots. Being down 2-0 is not a death sentence. This team still has the ability to come back. We’ll see if this group wants it bad enough. Every Blackhawks team is different. In the past, when pushed against the wall they’ve always responded. Even in years where they couldn’t quite complete the comeback like 2011 vs Vancouver or 2014 vs LA or last year vs St Louis, the team never quit and eventually forced a 7th game. Maybe this team, filled with youth and lack of playoff experience had to really learn what it takes in the playoffs. Maybe these two games were a wake up call. Or maybe this team doesn’t have the sand, and they’ll fade away with a whimper. It’s too early to know, but it’s too early to give up.

–I’ll put my hand up, I didn’t think Rinne would be a difference maker for the Predators at this point in his career. He’s 34 and was very average in the regular season. While the Blackhawks didn’t challenge him much in Game 1, he certainly answered the bell in Game 2. He made a few spectacular saves, but more than that he’s clearly in one of those zones. Seeing the puck very well and he’s anticipating everything.

–The Predators are doing to a great job of sticking to their game plan. Which is basically 5 guys back every time and taking away all space in the neutral zone. That forces the Blackhawks to dump it in, which the Preds recover quickly because their top 4 D skate so well. Those D then either lob it out hit a quick stretch pass and they’re off to the races.

You control that with better puck management. You can’t just dump it in anywhere, let Rinne play the puck, and a D send it out of the zone with ease. The puck has to go to good areas. It has to go to places where the Blackhawks can win a race. And then you know what…they just have to win some fucking races and some battles. They need to support the puck and their forecheckers better by taking away lanes and gaps. It’s too easy for the Preds right now.

–Quick, think of a scoring chance created by Kane’s line in this series? You cant. Panarin-Anisimov-Kane are counted on to be big time offensive players and they haven’t even come close. Those guys, especially against trapping teams, have a tendency to just slow things up with the puck on their stick and invite bodies and traffic to them. They can’t do that anymore. They need to attack with speed relentless next game. You can’t open a team up East-West unless they respect your ability to attack them North-South. Right now the Kane line is predictable and the Preds just sit back and wait for them to turn it over in the zone. Go right at those D, take them wide, make them turn, and keep them off balance.

–I think it’s time to jumble up the lines. I would go with

Schmaltz-Toews-Hossa

Panarin-Anisimov-Kane

Hartman-Kero-Panik

Rasmussen-Kruger-Desjardins

This would give the Blackhawks two legitimate scoring lines, a shut down line with Rasmussen-Kruger-Desi, and then you tell Hartman, Panik, and Kero that their only job is to give the team energy. Chip the puck in, go to the net, shoot from everywhere, hit everything. Agitate, and be villains and let the top 6 do the heavy lifting.

–I also wouldn’t mind giving Forsling a look in this series. He has a calm game and Campbell hasn’t been effective. None of the D have been particularly good, but maybe it’s time to insert some fresh legs to the group

Keith-TVR

Hjalmarsson-Oduya

Forsling-Seabrook

More than anything else, the Blackhawks need to see one go in. If Panik’s shot of the post early in the 1st finds the net or the Toews one, maybe we are talking about a different series right now. Scoring first is essential because it would force the Preds to come out of their shell a little bit and get in on the forecheck. I expect the Blackhawks to give a championship effort on Monday, get a win, and then we have a new series on our hands. Ain’t dead yet. He is RISEN