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If Joel Quenneville is looking for answers after Game 3 of the Western Conference Final, he need look no further than his coaching staff, defense and his star right wing, Patrick Kane.
Any time Kane wants to step up his game, as he does so often toward the latter parts of playoff series . . . wait, check that, Kane needs to do so fast, as in Game 4. He was -2 last night and really didn't do much with or without the puck.
Quenneville chose to load up his top line with Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa and Bryan Bickell—and he got results from that line. But the rest of the night, he got very little from any other combinations.
Many this morning will throw Michal handzus under the bus. But not so fast. Yes, it was Handzus' penalty which led to the first LA goal, and worse still he fell asleep and failed to tie up Jeff Carter on the second LA goal (which combined with their third goal, were the backbreakers in this game), but Handzus was also 8-4 in the face-off dot and did some good things.
That's the problem. If you don't use him on face-offs or on the PK, who do you use? Well, for some reason, Marcus Kruger only played 12 minutes last night and took six draws (where he was 5-1). I will give this coaching staff (well, Quenneville) the benefit of the doubt. But unless Kruger is nursing an injury, it would seem to be time to step up his minutes and reduce Handzus'. It's really that simple.
Patrick Sharp got untracked last night, a little too late, with 3 seconds left in regulation. But Sharp remains a question mark. The fact is, the coaching staff has not found the right line combinations.
Lest I throw some names into the Line-O-Matic 5000 (and I know somewhere in Florida, my friend Wiz is cringing), let me make a few observations:
POWER UP—PRONTO
The power play is killing the Hawks. They must get more consistent traffic in front of Jonathan Quick, move the puck and move their bodies better. When the puck and players move fast, the opponent has to play catch up and can't block every shot you take. if you're stationary and telegraphing every shot, you get what you've seen the last two games.
OPEN UP THAT BAG OF BROOKBANK
Michal Rozsival needs to sit. You play this guy for his experience and savvy and in those departments he is letting you down. Sheldon Brookbank's energy has been a sit in the arm in both the St. Louis and Minnesota series.
BE HONEST
if your fourth line is worth keeping intact, then Brandon Bollig has to play more than five minutes. It's just logic. If not, sit him and play Peter Regin.
BE CREATIVE
If Kruger isn't hurt, his minutes and playing situations have to increase—maybe at the expense of Handzus. Kruger, Brandon Saad, maybe Ben Smith, should be getting more top 9 opportunities, because the Hawk coaching staff is teetering on the precipice of insanity, i.e., trying the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
Game 4 is now pretty much a must-win for the Hawks. I'll have more tomorrow.
JJ