The Blackhawks find themselves in an unfamiliar (for the most part) position.
Tonight in St. Louis, the Blues go for the kill in their first round playoff series versus the Blackhawks—likely before a sellout crowd, whose emotion and intensity will be fueled by repeated, frustrating playoff losses to the Blackhawks.
The Blackhawks enter the game fighting for their lives, wounded and reeling.
By all rights, you can argue, the odds are stacked against Chicago. But then again—here’s where you invoke the old saying: “that’s why they play the games.…
As close as each game in this series has been, the Blackhawks have a “puncher’s chance,… and in spite of the state of things (down 3-1 in a best of 7), they are the defending Stanley Cup Champs and the best team in hockey over the last 6-7 years.
And they need to give an effort tonight that reflects that.
Then, it’s really in God’s (and some might assert, the refs’) hands. A win for Chicago tonight (and if I were betting, I would not put my money there, honestly), takes the series back to Chicago with the Hawks regaining some momentum and a sizable sliver—as opposed to a slight glimmer—of hope.
The Hawks have been here before, in the second round in 2014 versus Detroit, in particular. In some ways, mostly due to the Blues’ home-ice advantage, this is a tougher slog for Chicago. But the way to dig out of a hole like this is one game—one period, one faceoff, one puck battle—at a time.
I am not sure what to expect tonight as far as lines. Joel Quenneville put the blender on puree in Game 3. But most of the Chicago offense came from the blueline, so the results were at best mixed.
If it were my call, I’d dance with what brung me, and put Marian Hossa back with Andrew Ladd and Jonathan Toews, then the PAK line, then cobble something potentially effective around Marcus Kruger, Teuvo Teravainen and perhaps Richard Panik—and roll those three lines hard and heavy—it could be the last hockey this team plays for a while. The same with Keith, Seabrook, Hjalmarsson and TVR. Empty the barrels with your best players. Use the fringe players as sparingly as possible.
And perhaps live to fight another day.
It should be an interesting game with another 9:30 Eastern start, and another bleary-eyed morning tomorrow.
All I have for now,
JJ
FOB (good peeps, good reads)
Chris Block Al Cimaglia http://www.thethirdmanin.com
Frank Nova http://www.hockeenight.com
Greg Boysen http://www.letsgohawks.net
Puckin’ Hostile Crew http://www.puckinhostile.com