At the start of the playoffs I mentioned to some of friends who are big blackhawk fans 3 things had to happen in my opinion for the hawks win: win enough faceoffs at key times during the game FAILED so far bottom 6 needs to create a forecheck and score FAILED so far and the young players like Hartman Smaltz Kero Hayden etc. needed to make an impact FAILED so far. The last 2 games have been pathetic and middle finger to all hawks fans. This team is not constructed to just flip the switch it doesn t have the scoring depth to do so. The team is lacking a top 6 lw size to win board battles and willingness to go to the net and be physical. Didn t need cambell signing (A pr stunt by management) should of used that money more wisely. To many rookies to start with plus a coach that doesn t like playing rookies give Q credit he made it work. Bowman failed at the tdl not getting a centerman who win draws consistenly a 3rd round would got you one instead another cast away. So it will be a interesting offseason for the hawks even if they do turn it around major changes are needed what they are I do not know.

if any group can get out of this hole, it's them.

score early, make Nashville open it up, and see what happens. lot of depth and heart on this team still. this team figures it out as series get longer. let's see what they are made of now. always seems they play their best when their backs are completely to the walls.
- frafra

It would help if they could play with the lead. Of course they would have to score a goal to do that.

All the stats in the world don't matter diddly when it comes to gut-check time.
It's gut-check time.

(Hint: one does NOT dig oneself out of a hole. One CLIMBS out of a hole)

Pretty teams win pretty, but they lose ugly. Gut check time no doubt.
It's much easier to play poker if you know what's in the other guys hand.
Preds have been well prepared and know what the hawks are going to do. You'd think a "hall of fame coach" would realize that and change something up. The core doesn't have the wheels anymore to piss into the wind.

At the start of the playoffs I mentioned to some of friends who are big blackhawk fans 3 things had to happen in my opinion for the hawks win: win enough faceoffs at key times during the game FAILED so far bottom 6 needs to create a forecheck and score FAILED so far and the young players like Hartman Smaltz Kero Hayden etc. needed to make an impact FAILED so far. The last 2 games have been pathetic and middle finger to all hawks fans. This team is not constructed to just flip the switch it doesn t have the scoring depth to do so. The team is lacking a top 6 lw size to win board battles and willingness to go to the net and be physical. Didn t need cambell signing (A pr stunt by management) should of used that money more wisely. To many rookies to start with plus a coach that doesn t like playing rookies give Q credit he made it work. Bowman failed at the tdl not getting a centerman who win draws consistenly a 3rd round would got you one instead another cast away. So it will be a interesting offseason for the hawks even if they do turn it around major changes are needed what they are I do not know.
- Scott1977

Second year in a row where Stan the man didn't get it done at the TDL. Last season handing a gifted kid in Danault to Montreal for hot garbage and not getting the Dman he needed - this year he doesn't get the depth centerman...As I mentioned earlier Boyle would have been a real nice add.

I didn't get to the Sharp trade fiasco, the Saad trade etc or my personal fave resigning Rundblad when he needed an actual defenseman...which WontheCup points out on the last page.

Meantime a full page love note from Rosenbloom on Bowman in the Trib sports this morning with Bowman as the MVB (most valuable Blackhawk) ...next to that is the continuation of Haugh's column ripping the Hawks from page 1 - Preds have Hawks on ropes...Happy Easter everybody...

All the stats in the world don't matter diddly when it comes to gut-check time.
It's gut-check time.

(Hint: one does NOT dig oneself out of a hole. One CLIMBS out of a hole)
- 35Tony0

Eklund's blog today is the Hawks

I don't really know what a 'cement finisher' is, but Austin Watson and Harry Z seem to fit that description. Those 2 big guys are hitting everything they can - the Hawks have nobody to counter it or anybody other than Panik they can use to pound those 4 very good Nashville defenceman.
- RickJ

Exactly who I was talking about, Zolnierczyk played for Lavi in Philly, as did Carbomb, its players like that along with Watson who I mean. That kid is Hartmans size, and he hit cleanly, not a stupid cheap cross check like Hartman did, THAT is the crap the the instigator rule and suspensions will protect in a round about way instead of a plain old " I'm gonna kick your ass next time out on the Ice" .
Here's hoping these guys packed their lunch pales instead of make up bags for the trip to Nashville. I enjoy your posts, happy Easter!

Well, the narrative of this team is the same as it has been all year. The rookies played fairly well in the regular season - Hartman, Schmaltz, Kero, even Hino - but that isn't good enough for the playoffs; especially when rookies are 25% of the forwards. So that puts more pressure on the core and the opponent can shut them down and play a style this team hasn't been able to handle. The veterans are losing some skill and the young guys not ready enough yet to pick up that slack; it's an uneven roster.

I still think they can respond. I saw some glimpses of intensity, especially after the second goal. They need to bring it from the drop of the puck all the way through, for the rest of this series. It ain't over until it's over. But if they don't get out of the first round, I expect significant changes.

Honestly, the one guy I don't question on this team is Hossa. He gives 100% whenever his skates hit the ice.
- matt_ahrens

The kids and the old man were best players on the ice fwiw

At the start of the playoffs I mentioned to some of friends who are big blackhawk fans 3 things had to happen in my opinion for the hawks win: win enough faceoffs at key times during the game FAILED so far bottom 6 needs to create a forecheck and score FAILED so far and the young players like Hartman Smaltz Kero Hayden etc. needed to make an impact FAILED so far. The last 2 games have been pathetic and middle finger to all hawks fans. This team is not constructed to just flip the switch it doesn t have the scoring depth to do so. The team is lacking a top 6 lw size to win board battles and willingness to go to the net and be physical. Didn t need cambell signing (A pr stunt by management) should of used that money more wisely. To many rookies to start with plus a coach that doesn t like playing rookies give Q credit he made it work. Bowman failed at the tdl not getting a centerman who win draws consistenly a 3rd round would got you one instead another cast away. So it will be a interesting offseason for the hawks even if they do turn it around major changes are needed what they are I do not know.
- Scott1977

While i cannot disagree with everything you mentioned, it appears that too many of the top players have not the heart to compete in this series. Their response could be just that they do not want to work as hard as the Pred's do since they do not have enough teamattes whom will match the effort of the diligent busy bees they line up against. Physicality has never been an all out endeavor for the Blackhawks in playoff hockey until their backs were pushed up agsinst the wall

The best example of that was coming back against the Red Wings in was that the 2013 Cup year

I have absolutely no confidance that the players collectively wil pit forth but a slight increase of vim and vigor. I hope i am dead wrong.

Bowman needs to correct the things you mentioned. Seabrook has slipped and he never was a great skater. Good luck dumping that albatross of a contract.

Crawford makes too much coin given the other large contracts we must bear....i mean whom do you subtract: Kane, Toews, Keith, Seabrook?

Clearly lesser salary players like Kruger could be jettisoned. I would like to hold on to Animisov, but do you choose between his sakary and Crawford.

Please bring aboard one big bruising top six forward. That is enough for now. The kids can keep coming in. Hayden a full year. Kempny and Forsling regulars. They better protect Panik. Find a way to protect him.

I believe other prospects eventually find thrir way to Chicsgo. As for AHL: I am lukewarm or down on Iocopala and Luis. Maybe Luis will be ok but he is not supplanting the top scoring wings in Chicago, so he will eventually go. I want to see what Snuggerud and Dahlgren could provide, but see them as third pair type. My hope is that both Kempny and Forsling could develop into second pair type. Baun is just an energy bottom line possibility. Bondra is similar to the prospects drafted but remaining in college, juniors etc all.....they are too far away to project.

While the 1-4 is a bear, I think a lot of the struggles amount to Keith not being Keith. Also TVR is a godamn dumpster fire. Seabrook has been fine IMO but Oduya and Campbell look old.

Rather then the rushes starting with the blue line the hawks have a forward carrying the puck up 200 ft. Moreover, there isnt a player cheating like Saad or Sharp would to get behind the other teams line and break their structure.

If Keith cant disrupt plays and flip the ice in the neutral zone and they're relying on a glacial like transition then theyll get swept. You see some pop from the back and quick transition then I think they take game 3.

Pretty teams win pretty, but they lose ugly. Gut check time no doubt.
It's much easier to play poker if you know what's in the other guys hand.
Preds have been well prepared and know what the hawks are going to do. You'd think a "hall of fame coach" would realize that and change something up. The core doesn't have the wheels anymore to piss into the wind.
- 6628

This is really noticeable when you watch other teams play, like Edmonton, like Toronto, I kind of remember what the Hawks used to look like when they were younger.

That being said, Hossa stills looks as fast and strong as ever. The others, not so much.

Hawks will need to dig down and see if they can make a series of it now. They played one "okay game" and one kinda bad one, but Preds are far from unbeatable. The room for error is evaporating for Chicago, so time to go. Could end up being a year of learning for the rookies and maybe time to get a bit more speed/size on the blueline. So far, 51 hasn't helped the team.

While i cannot disagree with everything you mentioned, it appears that too many of the top players have not the heart to compete in this series. Their response could be just that they do not want to work as hard as the Pred's do since they do not have enough teamattes whom will match the effort of the diligent busy bees they line up against. Physicality has never been an all out endeavor for the Blackhawks in playoff hockey until their backs were pushed up agsinst the wall

The best example of that was coming back against the Red Wings in was that the 2013 Cup year

I have absolutely no confidance that the players collectively wil pit forth but a slight increase of vim and vigor. I hope i am dead wrong.

Bowman needs to correct the things you mentioned. Seabrook has slipped and he never was a great skater. Good luck dumping that albatross of a contract.

Crawford makes too much coin given the other large contracts we must bear....i mean whom do you subtract: Kane, Toews, Keith, Seabrook?

Clearly lesser salary players like Kruger could be jettisoned. I would like to hold on to Animisov, but do you choose between his sakary and Crawford.

Please bring aboard one big bruising top six forward. That is enough for now. The kids can keep coming in. Hayden a full year. Kempny and Forsling regulars. They better protect Panik. Find a way to protect him.

I believe other prospects eventually find thrir way to Chicsgo. As for AHL: I am lukewarm or down on Iocopala and Luis. Maybe Luis will be ok but he is not supplanting the top scoring wings in Chicago, so he will eventually go. I want to see what Snuggerud and Dahlgren could provide, but see them as third pair type. My hope is that both Kempny and Forsling could develop into second pair type. Baun is just an energy bottom line possibility. Bondra is similar to the prospects drafted but remaining in college, juniors etc all.....they are too far away to project.
- jhawk59

Quite a bit is tactical. Theyre, as a team, not playing the game that has won them 3 cups. If these guys get unleashed and start playing a faster game to win, rather then not lose, I think you get a better result.

Give Nashville credit for executing, however the hawks can do a better job dictating the pace otherwise theyre playing into Nashvilles hands.

Quite a bit is tactical. Theyre, as a team, not playing the game that has won them 3 cups. If these guys get unleashed and start playing a faster game to win, rather then not lose, I think you get a better result.

Give Nashville credit for executing, however the hawks can do a better job dictating the pace otherwise theyre playing into Nashvilles hands.
- fattybeef

What gives you the idea the Hawks are "fast"? Those days are over. This is not a fast team at all. It's a team now that has to do it with guile, experience, superb positional execution and elite goal tending. They don't skate past anyone anymore.

What gives you the idea the Hawks are "fast"? Those days are over. This is not a fast team at all. It's a team now that has to do it with guile, experience, superb positional execution and elite goal tending. They don't skate past anyone anymore.
- kwolf68

Yep. Hawks haven't been a fast team for a few seasons now. Pretty average team speed since 2015 until now in my opinion.

Easy to be ticked off at this point, but I look at the NHL playoffs and there are some really good teams down 2-0 to good teams around the league.

CBJ down 2-0
Minny down 2-0
Chicago down 2-0

Who is gonna go down easy? Who is gonna go down swinging and who is going to come back?

They lost in six to Minny in 91. This team has totally mailed it in and is stunned at how much they are getting pushed around. They have the ability to push back but for whatever reason haven't. They should be embarrassed.
- golfbard

I heard my mama cry
I heard her pray the night Chicago died
Brother what a night it really was
Brother what a fight it really was
Glory be!
I heard my mama cry
I heard her pray the night Chicago died
Brother what a night the people saw
Brother what a fight the people saw
Yes indeed!

Easy to be ticked off at this point, but I look at the NHL playoffs and there are some really good teams down 2-0 to good teams around the league.

CBJ down 2-0
Minny down 2-0
Chicago down 2-0

Who is gonna go down easy? Who is gonna go down swinging and who is going to come back?
- breadbag

Good Chance all 3 are out this round plus the Habs or Rangers as well.

7 Months of Hockey and Travel and in 3 lousy days 4 teams with well over a Hundred points are hanging by a Thread.

Sure makes one question the importance of the Regular Season and I think owners will soon vote to revamp the broken playoff format.

Here's how i see the last two games...

IMO,

The Blackhawks don't have the intensity of the Preds. Nashville came to play, Hawks didn't.
At times it looks like the Preds have 6...or 7 skaters out there. They're winning most board battles and battles for loose pucks.

Nashville has written a blueprint on how to beat the Blackhawks...play five guys in the neutral zone...bottle up the stretch pass...and make the Hawks dump and chase.

The Preds hit everything in a red sweater. They force the Hawks to dump the puck...but the Hawks don't have big wingers (other than Hossa and Panik) who can win board battles for loose pucks.

The Blackhawk centermen--I'm looking at you too, #19--SUCK at winning face offs. On the PP and PK, esp, winning face offs is crucial.

As for the power play--in a word...YECH. It's sucked all season. The Blackhawk PP has two "plays"...Making perimeter passes, looking for a Panarin one-timer....and a Seabrook slapshot from the point.
Whoever is control of the Hawk PP needs to be fired at season's end.

Easy to be ticked off at this point, but I look at the NHL playoffs and there are some really good teams down 2-0 to good teams around the league.

CBJ down 2-0
Minny down 2-0
Chicago down 2-0

Who is gonna go down easy? Who is gonna go down swinging and who is going to come back?
- breadbag

Good Chance all 3 are out this round plus one of the Habs or Rangers.

7 Months of Hockey and Travel and in 3 lousy days 4 teams all with well over a Hundred points each are hanging by a Thread.

Sure makes one question the importance of the Regular Season. Time the owners vote to revamp this broken playoff format.

Yep. Hawks haven't been a fast team for a few seasons now. Pretty average team speed since 2015 until now in my opinion.
- breadbag

Sometimes historical trends dictate people's assumptions. This is why many think Crow is mediocre and a product of a 'great team', because that's really how the Hawks started this run. They won in 2010 inspite of not having a great goalie and even through the 2013 season lots of questions still revolved around him. I think in 2014 he successfully proved himself (he was brilliant v St.Louis, even better against Minnesota and still stellar v the Kings) and he just kept going. So while Crow is proven and is a huge reason the Hawks have done what they've done the perception remains.

The same applies to the speed. Yes at one time this team was super fast. The 2013 may have been the fastest of them all, 2010 was a mix of physical force and speed. But since then fast players have been moved on via F/A or trades (the speed lost with Saad, Sharp, Danault, Leddy is huge) and the remaining players are aging, which as we know slows them down. Still everyone thinks this team is fast. It just isn't fast. At best the speed is adequate. This team "should" be playing more a grinding game, because of the diminished speed, but don't have the road grader type players either.

While the 1-4 is a bear, I think a lot of the struggles amount to Keith not being Keith. Also TVR is a godamn dumpster fire. Seabrook has been fine IMO but Oduya and Campbell look old.

Rather then the rushes starting with the blue line the hawks have a forward carrying the puck up 200 ft. Moreover, there isnt a player cheating like Saad or Sharp would to get behind the other teams line and break their structure.

If Keith cant disrupt plays and flip the ice in the neutral zone and they're relying on a glacial like transition then theyll get swept. You see some pop from the back and quick transition then I think they take game 3.
- fattybeef

>Indeed
>Would add that the D "standing still" with the puck and the D partner also standing still -- not creating a moving outlet -- has been an issue for at least two years
>Hawks offense runs through their defense -- and their ability to make an excellent first pass
>D have been slow to the puck, slow to make decisions, and have not forced Nashville into coverages that are tough to read
>Agree on TVR -- just awful puck management, #4 too, -- both just giving the puck to either no one or right back to Nashville
>Would also add -- second playoff year in a row the coaching staff does not have a set four line rotation (or close to it) ready to go into battle
>Nashville is allowing their Dmen without the puck to become forwards when they see an opportunity to beat their check
>It certainly appears that the Hawks are doing the same schemes, with a lot of the same players they've always done
>The difference in on-ice intensity between the Preds and Hawks was shocking to see

Q needs to tell them that the Pressure is now all on the Preds because it's now their series to lose and the Hockey World expects Chicago is done.

Caution to the Wind, On the Road and Us against the World. Canucks 2011. Win a Shift,Win a Period.

Give Darling the Start.

D:
Keith-Seabs
Hammer-Oduya
Forsling-Kempney

F:
Toews-Panik- Hayden
Schmaltz-Kane Panarin
AA-Hartman-Hossa
Kero-Rasmussen-Vinny

Sit:
Campbell
TVR
Kruger
Crawford

These four have been brutal.

>Indeed
>Would add that the D "standing still" with the puck and the D partner also standing still -- not creating a moving outlet -- has been an issue for at least two years
>Hawks offense runs through their defense -- and their ability to make an excellent first pass
>D have been slow to the puck, slow to make decisions, and have not forced Nashville into coverages that are tough to read
>Agree on TVR -- just awful puck management, #4 too, -- both just giving the puck to either no one or right back to Nashville
>Would also add -- second playoff year in a row the coaching staff does not have a set four line rotation (or close to it) ready to go into battle
>Nashville is allowing their Dmen without the puck to become forwards when they see an opportunity to beat their check
>It certainly appears that the Hawks are doing the same schemes, with a lot of the same players they've always done
>The difference in on-ice intensity between the Preds and Hawks was shocking to see
- SnapitUpstairs

Good post, agree with all of it, but wanted to note part of it. This is a HUGE problem for the Hawks in getting their transition going. Keep in mind 5 of these players on D THRIVED in this very system for a number of years. Did they suddenly forget how to play? ALL 5 of these guys are playing at far below the level we are accustomed to. Is it complacency? Age? Poor preparation?