Chicago Blackhawks Morning Links- Take Two

Good morning Chicago Blackhawks fans! The Chicago Blackhawks will try to get back to their winning ways tonight when they host the Nashville Predators in Game #2 of the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. 

It’s like Deja vu all over again, last year the St. Louis Blues shutout the Chicago Blackhawks 1-0 in the first game of the playoffs, and there it was once again in Game #1 from the United Center this time it was the Preds scoring in the first period and holding on for the 1-0 win.

The game was painful to watch with the Predators going old school with the old Barry Trotz muck up the neutral zone and stand 4 players on the blue line and dare you to carry the puck in.

It was really interesting that after practice yesterday that Nick Schmaltz admitted to maybe being a little nervous during Game #1 and getting a little too quick to get rid of the puck when he’s a playmaker.

These are the type of things you don’t expect from kids these days, but there it was so maybe he will settle down, and play some good hockey tonight.

More from Blackhawks News

• Blackhawks vs Flames: Date, Time, Lineup, Betting Odds, More
• Three Takeaways from the Blackhawks’ Win vs Vancouver
• Blackhawks: Why Derek King is the Right Coach moving forward
• Marc-Andre Fleury Carries the Blackhawks to a 4-2 Win vs Seattle
• Instant Reaction: Blackhawks top Kraken for first time in history

The other thing I totally expect is Artem Anisimov to play better.  When I say better, I mean his timing to be closer to normal.  He totally whiffed on a one-timer in Game #1, and a couple rebound chances were just misses.  Look for Anisimov to have a good game.

The one other thing I’m begging the Hawks to do.  Stop shooting it right into the defense.  Fake a shot, make a pass, do something different! We can’t have 26 more blocked shots tonight!

More from Blackhawk Up

• Blackhawks: Three Noticeable Improvements in Comeback Win vs Blues
• Blackhawks: Key Takeaways from 3-2 win over the Blues
• Blackhawks: Grading Connor Murphy and a position comparison
• Blackhawks: Shuffling the lines to try and spark offense at 5 on 5
• These Lineup Changes could Solve the Blackhawks’ Scoring Problem

Here are some morning links to kick off your weekend!

The Chicago Blackhawks are focused on creating more traffic in Game #2 (Blackhawks)

Who is the real Chicago Blackhawks MVP this season? (Tribune)

The Blackhawks need to make Pekka Rinne work harder (CSN)

Were the St. Louis Blue playing possum in Minnesota (Bleedin Blue)

Columbus Blue Jackets Matt Calvert likely to get suspended (Sporting News)

Next: Game #1 By The Numbers

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