Sports. Honestly. Since 2011

Lack of Execution, Gumption Plagues Blackhawks in Game 3

Blackhawks in game 3: The Chicago Blackhawks lack-luster effort in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final must be addressed severely.

After the triple-overtime thriller known as Game 2 of the Western Conference final, there was little doubt that fatigue would be a factor in the ensuing Game 3 between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Anaheim Ducks. Hawks defenseman Duncan Keith played just nine seconds shy of 50 minutes in Game 2, while Nicklas Hjalmarsson and Brent Seabrook were on the ice for just under 48 minutes. On the other side of the spectrum, 40-year-old blueliner Kimmo Timonen had only 16:45 minutes of ice-time, a vast disparity among Chicago’s defense that was deemed “fine” by head coach Joel Quenneville.

In the second game of the series, he was correct. The Ducks and Blackhawks were knotted up at one win apiece, a prime objective which had been accomplished by Coach “Q” and his staff. Although Timonen and Kyle Cumiskey (who make up the third defensive group for the Hawks) failed to hit 20 minutes, his club managed to escape the Honda Center victorious thanks to Marcus Kruger’s goal which came after more than 56 minutes of overtime playoff hockey. The Swedish forward’s difference-maker overshadowed the fact that Anaheim dominated the zone time for the majority of Game 2, but it didn’t matter.

Lack of Execution, Gumption Plagues Blackhawks in Game 3

Why didn’t it matter? Well, the Blackhawks are a rare group of individuals that have the outstanding ability to win games in pressure-filled scenarios despite whether they played horrific or incredible, perhaps better than any other team in the National Hockey League. They’ve been deemed the Stanley Cup Champions two times in the past five years, winning the trophy in 2010 and 2013. Chicago has also qualified for the Western Conference Final five of the past seven campaigns, amassing a record of 2-2 in the previous four chances at advancing to the fourth and final round of the NHL postseason.

Game 3 would provide a different storyline in the Madhouse on Madison for the home squad, however. Coming into this game, the Blackhawks remained the only team of hockey’s “Final Four” to be undefeated at home in the playoffs (5-0). Right from the start of Thursday night’s contest, Chicago had a plethora of chances to draw first blood. Captain Jonathan Toews took that statement literally after being high-sticked by Ducks forward Jakob Silfverberg to put the Blackhawks on the power-play for four minutes 13:36 into the first period.

Before this double-minor infraction, the Blackhawks had a pair of opportunities on the man-advantage to capitalize on the Ducks lack of discipline, but failed. Anaheim’s penalty-killing unit instead adjusted well to the Hawks PP after allowing two goals in the first six minutes of Game 2. Patrick Kane, the liaison of the Blackhawks man-advantage five-some, was neutralized when he attempted to cross the opposition’s blue line.

The defensive core of the Ducks was able to get their sticks in the lanes of passes while the Hawks hoped for a clean break-out up ice. Silfverberg had served his time, but Chicago was unable to score the first goal of the game on eight minutes of power-play time in the first period. Two more power-plays would arise for the Blackhawks in the third period would spell more of the same. An absence of offensive zone entry and traffic in front of Ducks netminder Frederik Andersen translated into one shot on goal for Chicago on five chances on the man-advantage.

On the ice, Chicago’s pace slowed down significantly. Off the ice, fans continued to question two late scratches for the Blackhawks that Quenneville had made: Kris Versteeg and Joakim Nordstrom in, Antoine Vermette and Teuvo Teravainen out. The reasoning behind the change was uncertain before puck drop, but the Blackhawks bench boss provided a simple response for it:

“Well, we just wanted some fresh legs in there. We felt that Steeger had never played over a long stretch in the last series, we wanted to get him back in there. You know, tough game the other day, travel. We wanted to bring some new guys in.”

Vermette, who is usually terrific at the face-off dot, was 14-of-32 in the first two games. The 32-year-old center had no points in his last five games, which most likely factored into his benching as well. He did have a couple of scoring chances to end Game 2, but Andersen denied him. Teravainen, on the other hand, had been gaining confidence with the puck and used his speed to control the puck in all three zones. The Finnish winger’s poise could have provided a spark for the Blackhawks, although he was seated in the press box once Game 3 began.

Were the Teravainen and Vermette scratches a poor move? Maybe.

Was that the reason why the Blackhawks lost Game 3? Of course not.

The offensively-talented lineup in Chicago was stagnant when it mattered most. Kane was able to register the only goal scored in Game 3 on a beautiful backhanded effort in the dying minute of the first, but it wasn’t enough. Anaheim out-hit the Blackhawks 45-27, which took a toll on the home team, hoping to scavenge energy they had exhausted in Game 2’s effort.

Shots weren’t getting through to Andersen as the Ducks blocked 27 of them, and the inconsistency of the Hawks effort showcased itself particularly in the second period when Anaheim took the lead with less than a minute to go in the frame thanks to a Simon Despres goal. The sense of urgency finally reared its head for Chicago with 120 seconds left in the third period when goaltender Corey Crawford was pulled for the extra attacker.

Before that? It was utter discombobulation in almost every facet of the game for the Blackhawks from a fundamental standpoint. Communication was off, passes weren’t crisp and the Ducks were controlling the majority of board battles which meant less possession time for the team in red and black.

In spite of their lack-luster performance in Game 3, the city of Chicago should not be rioting by any means. They have been here before, they know how to perform under adversity and in no way is this series over.

But the end of the day, there’s no excuses for Patrick Sharp’s play (3 shots), Bryan Bickell’s play (2 shots), or Brandon Saad’s play (3 shots). These three have the ability to turn this series around for Chicago if they want to start producing. Sharp’s determination and precise shooting capability has been non-apparent, Bickell has been a no-show this entire playoffs by providing zero goals (while being paid $4 million/year), and Saad has been forced to the outside on almost every rush he gets.

Does this mean the Ducks have been defending Chicago well? Yes, but this trio of under-performers have had recurring problems throughout the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs that have to be corrected if they hope to win three more games in this series.

The fifteen other skaters in front of Crawford aren’t that far off, either.

Share:

More Posts

Send Us A Message