Chicago Blackhawks’ 3 Keys For Game 3 Win Against Predators

The Chicago Blackhawks have been shut out in their first two games of the playoffs against the Nashville Predators. What can they do to win in Game 3?

It isn’t a pretty picture. The Chicago Blackhawks are looking at a 0-2 deficit to the Nashville Predators in the first round of the playoffs. And it doesn’t stop there.

They have lost these two games at the United Center, where they’re supposed to have the advantage. They have been shut out in both games. The first game was a little easier to swallow, as the score at the end of 60 minutes was 1-0. But last night, they lost by a humiliating 5-0 margin.

I asked my husband to give me a key to a win for the Hawks in Game 3. “Stop sucking,” he said.

Well, that certainly would be helpful. And I’m sure many of you are feeling just as frustrated and angry as my husband. Because here’s the thing. The Chicago Blackhawks don’t suck.

They are an excellent hockey team. A team that has scoring prowess and depth among their four lines. A team that has a solid defense, and a proven goalie. A team that has one of the best coaches in the NHL. A team, mind you, that finished best in the West, and third in the National Hockey League during the regular season.

So why do they find themselves in this situation? Well, you have to give the Nashville Predators credit. They are playing very smart hockey. They’ve jumped out to an early lead in both games, and then prevented the Blackhawks from having anything to work with.

The ’Hawks are shooting from the point and the outside because the Preds aren’t allowing them anything else. They don’t have any net-front presence because the Preds won’t let them get there. They’re not letting the ’Hawks play the type of game they like to play.

If the Chicago Blackhawks are going to win the next shift, the next period and the next game, they have to keep it simple. Here are three keys they can concentrate on.

Get the goal

Yep, I’m being pretty predictable here, because this one is painfully obvious. The ’Hawks need to score a goal. It doesn’t matter who, and it doesn’t matter how. Just score a goal. This will get a huge monkey off their back, and more goals will come. The floodgates will open if they can just score.

Stay disciplined

I understand it’s the playoffs, and emotions are high. But the ’Hawks can’t let their frustration get the best of them. Ryan Hartman committed an ill-timed interference penalty at the beginning of Game 1. OK, chalk that one up to nerves. But in Game 2, he received a game misconduct for roughing, and wasn’t allowed to finish the game. This is unacceptable.

Patrick Kane let his temper get the best of him when he committed a cross checking infraction at the end of the second period. And Brent Seabrook was also charged with roughing late in the third.

The Predators are going to be in their own building for this next game, and they’re up in the series by two games. Their confidence will be high, and there’s going to be a lot of chirping going on to get the Blackhawks off their game. The ’Hawks have to rise above it and stay disciplined. They need every advantage they can get. They don’t want to lose any momentum by having to kill penalties.

Heck, maybe they could use this to their advantage. Get the Preds to take some penalties, and then score on the powerplay. Which leads me back to the first key: score a goal!

Want it more

This is REALLY what it all boils down to. The Preds are in the Hawks’ heads right now for sure. They have the ’Hawks thinking they can’t do it.

Heck, I’m thinking they can’t do it. We all have that sense of doubt. Hence the booing at the United Center by the fans. Which I think is completely unacceptable, by the way. How the heck are you going to help matters by booing?! Yeah, that’s a wonderful way to give your team the mental edge. They need all the help they can get right now, and the crowd is booing. Shame on every single one of you!

This is why most of us can never be professional athletes. Never mind the talent and the training that’s involved, but you must believe in yourself. You have to be mentally tough, visualize yourself being successful and then go out and transfer that into success.

Well, right now the Preds are doing a much better job at that. They have a huge chip on their shoulder. After all, they’ve been knocked out of the first round twice by the Chicago Blackhawks. They would love nothing better than to return the favor.

More from Blackhawk Up

Now it’s the ’Hawks’ turn to get angry. They need to take these two defeats to heart, and do something about it. The Chicago Blackhawks tend to show their best when they face adversity. Well, now is that time. This is a must-win game, and they have to play with desperation and passion.

The ’Hawks must have the mindset that they’re not getting beaten by the Nashville Predators. They’re getting beaten by themselves. They can do this! They have the capacity. They just have to want it more.

Next: 5 Thoughts After Game 2

Don’t give up, my friends! It’s not over until it’s over. I’d love to see lots of red in Nashville on Monday night to cheer on this team. The Chicago Blackhawks are not eliminated yet. There’s still lots of hockey to be played.

LET’S GO ’HAWKS!!!

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