The Blackhawks are now on the outside looking in as far as the playoff seeding goes in the Central Division. By sweeping the Hawks over the weekend, the Predators gained ground and took over 4th place.
The campaign to reclaim a playoff berth starts this evening in a series versus the 2nd place Hurricanes where the Hawks have held their own in previous outings going 1-1-1. Getting back to basics is in order.
The Hawks need to commit and compete for a full game, lock it down defensively, and make smart fundamental plays. Improving breakouts, passing, and special teams are key to reaching the next level.
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Game Day
Game 37, March 30: Blackhawks vs Hurricanes 6:30pm CST
Records: Blackhawks, 16-15-5, 37 Pts (5th) Hurricanes, 23-7-3, 49 Pts (2nd)
Season Series: 1-1-1
Goals For/Game: Blackhawks, 2.83 (16th) Hurricanes, 3.27 (6th)
Goals Against/Game: Blackhawks, 3.11 (22nd) Hurricanes, 2.52 (7th)
Power Play: Blackhawks, 30-111, 27.0% (3rd) Hurricanes, 32-106, 30.2% (1st)
Penalty Kill: Blackhawks, 79-107, 73.8% (27th) Hurricanes, 93-112, 83.0% (8th)
For Carolina, Teuvo Teravainen remains on IR. Also, neither the Hawks nor the Canes have any players on the NHL COVID-19 Protocol List.
The Hurricanes projected lineup (per DailyFaceoff.com):
McGinn - Aho - Necas Niederreiter - Staal - Foegele Svechnikov - Martinook - Fast Paquette - Geekie - Lorentz
Slavin - Hamilton Skjei - Pesce Fleury - Bean
Nedeljkovic Reimer
Also available: Max McCormick (W), Vincent Trocheck (W), Jake Gardiner (D), Joey Keane (D), Petr Mrazek (G), Beck Warm (G).
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Roster Updates
Makin' Moves: Ian Mitchell, Lucas Carlsson, Wyatt Kalynuk, Reese Johnson and MacKenzie Entwitstle join the #Blackhawks taxi squad
— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) March 29, 2021
Alec Regula, Brandon Pirri and Mikael Hakkarainen return to IceHogshttps://t.co/TeeqlE2oNu
With Adam Boqvist seeming to be a blueline fixture, the carousel is with the spot that Nicolas Beaudin now occupies. It will be a feat to work him in with Ian Mitchell, Lucas Carlsson, and Wyatt Kalynuk.
Getting in Reese Johnson and MacKenzie Entwistle should be easier. Matthew Highmore can sit and Lucas Wallmark has been a healthy scratch, yet, Dylan Strome returns soon after the birth of his first child.
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Rockford Updates
Welcome Back: Brad Morrison, Chad Yetman, and Dmitry Osipov return to the IceHogs from the @IndyFuel https://t.co/87KUs27mJj
— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) March 29, 2021
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Prospect Updates
Wyatt Kaiser
Wyatt Kaiser punched his ticket to the #FrozenFour, playing a game-high 59:39(!) of ice time. @BMOHarrisBank | #Blackhawks https://t.co/w25agDHYzN
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 29, 2021
Kaiser's on-ice shot attempt differential doesn't look great - he's hovering around 41 percent - but there is absolutely zero chance UMD wins that game without him.
— J.D. Burke (@JDylanBurke) March 28, 2021
Only conceded one on-ice scoring chance, from outside the slot, & put up wild defensive play numbers. #Blackhawks https://t.co/qimEgefqNz
Like first-year pro Kalynuk, Kaiser is a superb skater who takes care of his end first and has the skills to contribute on the other end at even strength and on the power play. Kaiser's star is rising.
Jake Wise
Logan Cockerill, Ty Amonte and Max Kaufman intend to remain at BU, per sources, while Jake Wise and Jack DeBoer have entered the transfer portal. Details @WTBUSports: https://t.co/rpXvySyLb4 pic.twitter.com/CytBZEZzkk
— Patrick Donnelly (@PatDonn12) March 29, 2021
Wise played in 50 of 86 games total in 3 seasons for Boston University. Injury was the reason for his shortened freshman year but he missed only one game last year and was scratched for most of this year.
Mike Hardman
Mike Hardman could be the first Boston College men’s hockey player to jump to the pros this offseason, as he is reportedly signing a deal with the Chicago Blackhawks https://t.co/umx87dPwsI
— BC Interruption (@bcinterruption) March 29, 2021
Two article tidbits:
* Hardman describes himself "as a physical player but one with a shoot-first mentality." * He was the 2018-19 recipient of the BCHL Bob Fenton Trophy as the player who "exhibits the fundamental aspects of sportsmanship while excelling at the game."
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Stan Bowman
Expect Team USA 🇺🇸 to name #Blackhawks Stan Bowman as GM of the 2022 Olympic team, to be assisted by #mnwild Bill Guerin among others, in a press conference on Wednesday.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 29, 2021
As interesting as it is to see how he rebuilds the Blackhawks, so is seeing how Bowman builds Team USA for the world's largest stage at the Winter Olympics in Beijing, China. What will be the strategy?
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See you on the boards!