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Basically, the Blackhawks need to win their next two games—home playoff tilts against the St. Louis Blues—or their season is probably going to end soon. And with it, any hopes of establishing the first real hockey Dynasty in 20 years.
And they’ll have to win those games without one of their top 2 defensemen—Brent Seabrook—who got a three-game suspension yesterday for his game 2 hit on St. Louis captain David Backes.
The Hawks lost Games 1 and 2, both games they were leading with under two minutes in regulation, because they wilted mentally. This is not what you expect from the reigning Stanley Cup champions. But if there’s good news, it’s also correctable.
Seabrook is important, but the Hawks won game 5 of the WCF last year on the road without their #1 defenseman, Duncan Keith.
And in many ways, the Hawks main problems in this series have been at forward and in net.
Andrew Shaw, Brandon Saad, Marian Hossa and others need to be better. And overall, the Hawks need to get ot the front of the net more.
The coaching staff, also, has to be accountable. Is it time to shake up the lines? Absolutely. It’s also time for the entire team to settle down, play their game and take care of business.
Corey Crawford has to be better or you can guarantee his new $36 million contract is going to come under serious fire in the offseason. A better game from Crawford, especially in Game 2, and this is series is tied 1-1 and swinging in the Hawks’ favor, regardless of their late game mental meltdown.
So tonight and Game 4 would be a very good time for #50 to step up and deliver a marquee performance, especially in Seabrook’s absence.
This is the season, folks. The Hawks need to win tonight, absolutely, and then in Game 4.
All for now,
JJ