Chicago Blackhawks’ Three Keys For Game 2 Win Against Predators

After a disjointed effort in a 1-0 loss to Nashville on Thursday, the Chicago Blackhawks need focus and energy to win Game 2 tonight

In Blackhawk Up’s staff predictions for Chicago’s first-round playoff series against Nashville, I cited “overwhelming firepower and smart defensive play” as keys to a Chicago Blackhawks series win in six games.

Unfortunately, neither were on display at United Center in Thursday night’s lackluster 1-0 loss to the Predators in which the Blackhawks played with a lack of intensity more commensurate with a meaningless late-December game against Carolina (which, by the way, the ‘Hawks lost 3-2).

Even so, the Blackhawks won the puck possession battle against Nashville with a convincing overall Corsi-for rate of 64 percent, but couldn’t put enough high-quality shots on net to really challenge Preds netminder Pekka Rinne, who stopped all 29 shots that came his way.

So what can the ‘Hawks do to win Game 2 and salvage a 1-1 split before heading to Nashville for Game 3 on Monday? It really comes down to Hockey 101: executing the game plan and taking advantage of Nashville mistakes. Here’s a look at three keys to a Blackhawks win on Saturday night.

Get pucks and bodies to the net

After a pretty good start, the ‘Hawks went close to 14 minutes in the first period without a shot on goal until Coach Q put Tanner Kero up with Jonathan Toews and Richard Panik to generate Chicago’s best chances late in the period. Before then, way too many Blackhawks zone entries ended with no shots or just a one-and-done sequence.

Chicago Blackhawks

Chicago pretty much dominated play in the second and third periods, and got its best scoring chances with Artem Anisimov, Panik or Kero crowding the net and trying, without success, to bang home some juicy rebounds. For the game, Toews had zero shots on goal, the blueliners could only muster a total of seven and Rinne had a good view on pretty much all of them.

For Game 2, the ‘Hawks have to forgo their dazzling toe-drag, Globetrotters-style passing extravaganza and just shoot the puck while getting bodies to the net in front of Rinne. He didn’t have to be great Thursday night because the Preds were great in front of him.

Smart defense

Perhaps more than any other sport, and what makes it so appealing to us sports junkies, hockey games are apt to turn on a small number of crucial events.

Most of us would like to forget the Blackhawks’ horrendous defensive breakdown in the first period against the Preds when Toews, Panik and Nick Schmaltz all converged for a meet-and-greet with Nashville’s Ryan Johansen just inside the blue line that distracted Duncan Keith long enough for Viktor Arvidsson to sneak across for an easy tip-in of Filip Forsberg’s shot from the left circle.

Here’s the goal again.

Just imagine: This was three Preds entering the zone against five ‘Hawks and coming away with the eventual game-winning goal. That can’t happen, but it did, and the ‘Hawks cannot afford any more catastrophic lapses like this or they might not make it to May.

The key will be for the Blackhawks to play their usual layered defense, and not get mesmerized away from their defensive assignments. Corey Crawford will do his part between the pipes, but he’ll still need help in front.

Special teams have to deliver

Chicago’s penalty-killing unit was perfect Thursday night, limiting Nashville to just one shot while killing its only powerplay of the game. On the other hand, the ‘Hawks’ powerplay was ineffective, generating only three shots while failing to convert either of its two powerplay chances.

This has been a problem for Chicago stretching back several weeks, characterized by difficulty entering the zone and not generating enough shots on goal.

While the ‘Hawks won the overall faceoff battle, winning 56 percent of their draws, they lost 48 percent of their offensive-zone faceoffs, including the initial draw on each of their two powerplays. That kills a powerplay before it gets started. Faceoffs have been an issue for the Blackhawks all year, and will need to get better, along with the powerplay, for the ‘Hawks to advance.

Next: Blackhawks Need Better Shot Selection Against Predators

OK, Game 1’s in the books, and the Blackhawks will surely hit the ice Saturday night with a renewed sense of urgency and purpose. It’s time for the Western Conference champions to start playing the way we all know they can. Go ‘Hawks!