Game 35: Hawks 1, Preds 3 (blackhawks)

blackhawks

Game 35: Hawks 1, Preds 3

By Theo Fox

Mar 27, 2021 • 11:40 pm

0comment-bubble

Kirby Dach came ready for war as he didn't look out of place after coming back one month ahead of schedule from a gruesome wrist injury suffered at the WJC. His presence was felt at ES and on the PP.

Regardless, the Predators thoroughly outplayed the Blackhawks in a 3-1 win even though metrics for shooting and scoring chances showed they were about even, especially shot attempts and high danger chances.

Starting Lineup

The starting lineup with Dach centering Mattias Janmark and Dylan Strome and Nicolas Beaudin slotting in as well:

Scoring Recap

1st Goal: Johansen (0-1)

2nd Goal: Grimaldi (0-2)

3rd Goal: Suter (1-2)

4th Goal: Granlund (1-3)

--

Game Notes

Stop Puck Watching

Easy math: if two or more Hawks are keying in on the same opponent, then just as many other opponents are wide open to make plays. Sounds simple to avoid yet the Hawks repeatedly fall into this trap.

Passes Through the Middle

The Hawks need to stop passing through the middle as they are easily telegraphed. Prime examples include Kampf on Nashville's second goal and Alex DeBrincat almost picked off by Erik Haula shifts later.

Failure to Relieve Pressure

When pressured in their own end, the defensemen are failing to relieve pressure by reversing the puck to their partner. Sometimes, though, their teammate isn't even in proper position to provide an outlet.

Scanning for Options

While there are others guilty of it as well, de Haan is the poster boy for the inability to scan options as he doesn't see that teammates are open for passes and instead commits to making less optimal plays.

--

Player Notes

Kirby Dach

Dach's second shift driving down the right lane with speed and splitting defenders with a near miss on a goal showed that he wasn't going to play tentatively in his first game back from LTIR.

Also, Dach's constant crashing of the crease, going into corners, and toiling along the boards was another display of his courage and instant willingness to bring it from the start.

--

Roster Updates

Expect one or some of them to be recalled to the Hawks for Sunday's game or just wait until both weekend games are over. This wholesale transaction is likely to happen again in the reverse by Monday.

--

Rockford Updates

Ivan Nalimov made his pro debut in North America but turned in a forgettable performance as he was swiss cheese letting in 6 goals. He allowed 2 goals on his first 2 shots faced yet still made 31 saves.

Starting Lineup

Scoring Recap

1st Goal: Cotton (0-1)

Ian Mitchell's failed clearing attempt got to Cavan Fitzgerald at the point who fired a shot on Nalimov who made an initial save but the rebound eventually made it to David Cotton for the opening goal.

2nd Goal: Lajoie (0-2)

With the play overloaded to the right side, Tommy Novak moved the puck from right to left with a pass over to Max Lajoie alone in the left circle who sent a wrister past Nalimov.

3rd Goal: Cotton (0-3) PP

Lajoie took a shot from the point that deflected in front amidst traffic and eventually landed again on Cotton's blade for him to bat home for his second goal of the game.

4th Goal: Bokk (0-4) PP

The Wolves moved the puck around the bottom half of the zone and Novak eventually centered it to Dominik Bokk parked at the top of the crease who tallied one on the power play.

5th Goal: Franson (1-4)

Cody Franson’s long wrister from the blueline had eyes as it somehow evaded a string of Rockford and Chicago players along the flight path of the puck and deflected off of a Wolves skate.

6th Goal: Barratt (2-4)

Garrett Mitchell flipped the puck airborne at the goal line to clear the zone that Evan Barratt flagged down at the far blueline and beat a defender before streaking down the left flank to score.

7th Goal: Suzuki (2-5)

Nalimov misplayed the puck behind the net and lollygagged getting back to his crease in time after Anthony Richard connected with Ryan Suzuki in front for the uncontested goal.

8th Goal: Jeannot (2-6)

Tanner Jeannot and Novak engaged in an elongated give-and-go as they moved the puck from the left circle to the right point then to the crease to increase the Wolves lead by 4 again.

9th Goal: Johnson (3-6)

After battling with Josh Healey all shift, Reese Johnson took a beating in the slot but received a pass from Wyatt Kalynuk and swatted it past Wolves goalie Antoine Bibeau.

Player Notes

Lucas Carlsson continues to bring physicality on the blueline playing the body and dishing out hits. If he can replicate this style of defending on the varsity team, he may carve a niche for himself.

While also beginning to exhibit some physicality, two of Kalynuk's strengths are his gap management when the opposition is on the rush as well as his smart and timely pinches on offense.

Ian Mitchell needs to learn how to take a few strides with the puck to get clear looks and buy time to make better passes rather than make hasty clears as his stretch passes rarely ever hit his receiver.

--

See you on the boards!

Show Comments
Loading...
Loading...
Loading sidebar...
0
Show comments for this article