Mr. Miller's BLOG
Not time to panic (yet)
Posted on April 21, 2010
Yes. The Blackhawks looked like (Karpotsev) in Game #3 vs. the Predators.
Yes. Coach Q's coaching ability can be questioned thus far in the playoffs.
Yes. The team's playing like a bunch of pussies.
No. It's not time to panic. At least not yet.
With a 4-1 loss to the Predators in Nashville last night, the Blackhawks find themselves down two games to one and fans are starting to lose their collective minds. Yet to quote Eddie O: Just stop it right there!
People who predicted a 'Hawks sweep in this round - or even a 5 game series - must've heavily imbibed in the proverbial kool-aid or simply underestimated the Predators, their 100 point season and their 3rd place finish in the tough Norris Division.
This wasn't supposed to be an easy series for the Blackhawks. It's the Stanley Cup Playoffs for Pete's sake.
After the loss in game one, simple math dictated that Chicago would have to win at least one game in Nashville. That hasn't changed. A win tomorrow night and it's a best-of-3 series with two games at the United Center. And who, among us, wouldn't have jumped all over that bet less than six days ago?
I'm not a hockey coach nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, but a few adjustments heading into Game #4 and it will be a best-of-3 series.
Adjustment #1: Net presence.
"I'm not on the ledge yet, but I'm climbing the stairs...", said TheShaman on the BHZ message boards. "If the Hawks wont put someone in front and screen their goalie, its gonna be a long summer."
Interesting, though, is that the Preds sometimes have two guys in front of the net. Pekka Rinne's been playing great this season, but he's certainly beatable. Blinding him from seeing the puck would certainly help.
Adjustment #2: quit playing nice!
Tim Sassone of the Daily Herald sums it up well: "Eighteen hits in a playoff game? Really?"
Adam Burish isn't much of a fighter, but he also isn't afraid to agitate and hit people. Play him. Dustin Byfngbtng is listed at 6'4" 257 yet plays like a poor man's Eric Daze. Is Boynton available? Has Fraser softened up since last week? Where's Seabrook and his sometimes seen fiesty streak?
The playoffs require toughness to be taken up a notch. The Blackhawks have backed off. At the very least, maybe Kane can take a cab to the game to get him going.
Adjustment #3: Play a full 60 minutes
The 'Hawks outplayed the Preds 40 of 60 minutes in Game #1 - by a long shot - yet let it all go in the final period. Game #2 could've been a 4-0 or 5-0 shutout had Chicago kept the pedal to the floor for the entire time. Instead, Coach Q looked to have put in a hockey version of the 'prevent defense' allowing Nashville the opportunity to hang around in what should've been a blowout.
This series with the Predators is still winnable and I'll even stick with my original Blackhawks-in-6 prediction (although winning in 7 games is alright too). But unless the 'Hawks elevate their game - even just a bit - they'll find themselves on the outside looking in and Toews and company can start lining up those 4-foot putts instead of their sites on Ryan Sutter in the corner.
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