Chicago Blackhawks Offense Not Far From Breakout Against Predators

The Chicago Blackhawks being outscored 6-0 through two games of their first-round playoff series against Nashville wouldn’t suggest offensive success, but the team is closer to breaking out than might be believed

After the Chicago Blackhawks lost Game 1 of their first-round playoff series against Nashville by a 1-0 score, I think most fans assumed the Blackhawks would be able to dent the twine at least once in Saturday’s Game 2. I certainly thought more goals were on the way, with some adjustments bringing about increased offense.

That did not play out at all, however, as the Blackhawks lost Game 2 by a 5-0 margin. Losing both of the series’ first two games in the United Center sends the Blackhawks to Bridgestone Arena with some ground to make up.

But I’m here to tell you something today that probably sounds a little crazy: The Blackhawks are not that far from an offensive breakout. Yes, I really do believe that. And, yes, I’m having a beer while writing this, but that is not impacting my belief.

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Let me explain why I’m going with this line of thought.

Blackhawks getting better chances

In Game 1, we lamented the Blackhawks taking a ton of low-quality shots. They were sending everything to Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Trevor van Riemsdyk at the point, and the Predators simply racked up blocked shots.

In Game 2, the Blackhawks almost scored on one of their first chances of the game. Richard Panik skated in toward the circle at Pekka Rinne‘s left and wired a wrist shot. It beat Rinne clean, but it didn’t beat the crossbar.

From there, the Preds controlled play in the first and led 1-0 by period’s end. The Blackhawks came out hot again in the second frame, with Jonathan Toews doing exactly what Panik did — firing from the circle at Rinne’s left, beating him clean and hitting all post.

Things got ugly from there, but the Blackhawks spent the first half of the third period going for the dirty goals down low, something they had struggled to even attempt prior.

Honestly, if Panik’s shot goes in, this could’ve been an entirely different game. The Blackhawks gain some much-needed confidence, put the Preds on their heels behind a loud crowd, maybe add another quick goal? Sure, Chicago’s defense would still need to have been better (a separate issue entirely), but at least things are trending in the right direction.

Let’s just compare the shot charts from Games 1 and 2, courtesy naturalstattrick.com:

You can see how much the Blackhawks fired away from the point in Game 1, with the reds and oranges indicating areas of greater attempts. But look at Game 2 — the point shot was relied on far less. The Blackhawks actually had some commitment to taking it inside.

Now, you can also see the Preds got more chances from various areas of the ice in Game 2 versus what they achieved in Game 1, but we’re here to talk about Chicago’s offense. The Blackhawks defense, again, is another discussion entirely.

So why did the Blackhawks wind up with just as many goals in Game 2, with apparently higher-quality attempts, as they did with worse shooting in the opener?

Puck luck due to change for Chicago

It’s going to sound very dismissive to some when I say Chicago has been unlucky in this series. Indeed, the Blackhawks have created plenty of their own problems in these two losses. But let’s just think back to the team on offense in these last two games.

In the opener, Artem Anisimov had multiple solid chances — the Blackhawks’ best, no doubt — and he just couldn’t settle the puck. It was attributed to rust, as he hadn’t played for most of March.

In Game 2, this seemed to happen even more. Beyond Panik and Toews hitting posts, Anisimov and Marian Hossa had memorable moments — multiple, for both guys — where the puck was so ready to hit their tape for a grade-A chance … until it didn’t. Guys like Hossa, Dennis Rasmussen and Artemi Panarin sent shots from quality spots on the ice right into Rinne’s crest. The Predator on his chest should’ve been black and blue by game’s end.

The Blackhawks have outshot the Predators both nights in this series. They handily won the Corsi-for battle in Game 1, and weren’t totally murdered in Game 2 when all situations were factored in (53.21-46.79). They won the faceoff battle in Game 1, and won the giveaways battle in Game 2.

We know the Blackhawks have guys who can produce offensively. It’s just going to take that one goal to take the weight off everyone’s back. The youngsters are looking to the veterans for something to hang on right now, and everyone is just hanging on that first goal. So it needs to arrive as fast as possible in Game 3.

Chicago Blackhawks

If I were coach Joel Quenneville, I’d go back to the top three lines from Game 1. I think those lines, when they focus on getting shots beyond the blue-line chances, are the ones that will succeed offensively. With Ryan Hartman somehow avoiding suspension for his stupidity at the end of Game 2, that option is there for the taking. Q ought to consider doing so.

The goals will come, Blackhawks fans. This team is not going to get shut out in a four-game sweep. A sweep could happen, certainly, but I also don’t think it will. I had the Blackhawks winning this series in five games, and have been surprised by the results so far. But it’s not time to panic. Give this team a chance in Game 3.

Additional comments on Game 2

There is something I wanted to create an entire post about yesterday, but I decided it would be done out of frustration. So I’m going to contain it to the end of this post.

The Blackhawks’ actions toward the end of Game 2 were despicable. They were akin to actions of recent Blues teams and current Ducks teams, and they were absolutely uncalled for.

It started when Patrick Kane cross-checked Harry Zolnierczyk in the face late in the second period. While Kane may have been pushed before making contact with Zolnierczyk, we all know he can control his stick better than that. That show of frustration is a terrible look when you’re trying to find your first goal of the series.

Not to be outdone, Keith and Seabrook decided to mug Viktor Arvidsson for reasons unknown in the third period. Arvidsson was standing in front of Corey Crawford, and while he may have been chirping the pair, he clearly wasn’t doing anything else. Seabrook took a roughing penalty for it.

And then Hartman’s cross-check to the face of Craig Smith near the end of the game. How he avoided a suspension for this, I’ll never know. Was it because his stick didn’t break, like Matt Calvert‘s did over the shoulder of Tom Kuhnhackl in the Pittsburgh-Columbus series? That’d be a flimsy excuse.

Hartman’s action can only be seen as an attempt to injure. You don’t take a knee on the ice and smash someone in the face with your stick otherwise.

And all of this was done out of frustration. Seeing three core Blackhawks involved in these acts was also unsettling, as it suggested the Preds were effectively getting in their heads.

Next: 3 Keys For Blackhawks In Game 3 Vs. Predators

While I think the Blackhawks will bring a cleaner mindset to tonight’s tilt, it’s worth noting how putrid their behavior was at the end of Saturday’s game. This wasn’t boys being boys — this was guys being red-asses and trying to hurt opponents for beating them clean. There’s no place for that, in Chicago or the NHL at large.