The Chicago Blackhawks need to show more urgency

The Chicago Blackhawks did not come away with a win last night. Now we find ourselves tied at one game in a best of five against the Edmonton Oilers, not ideal.

We talked a lot about how last night’s game was a must-win for the Chicago Blackhawks, and yet they did not pull through. Now the Blackhawks find themselves in an interesting situation. This is a situation where it is now the best of three. All either of these two teams needs to do is win two games.

I was a little worried when the Blackhawks won the first game of this series because it put Edmonton in the driver’s seat in game two. Game two was the Blackhawks game to lose, and lose they did. Edmonton played with urgency, and they did look nervous until they locked up the game.

Chicago needs to start playing with that sense of urgency. Sometimes experience is a good thing to have in your locker room, this is not one of those times. The last time the Blackhawks had to battle in a series was in Nashville of 2017, and we all remember how that ended. Their experience did not help the Blackhawks in 2017, and it might not be enough to help them now.

I am worried the Blackhawks are going to find themselves in a similar situation. Being calm and relaxed during tough situations is fine, but at the same time, you need to elevate your game. Right now I do not know if Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane are going to start playing like this is their last opportunity at a Cup. We saw the celebration that Kane had on his goal last night, and we have seen Toews play like the 2010 version of himself, but we need them to light a fire under their teammates.

When we talk to different players they are all talking about how great it is to have all this experience in our locker room and how everyone feels comfortable. I want to see the nervousness and the sense of urgency on the ice that comes when you are uncomfortable.

Kane and Toews just lost an opportunity to go up two to zero against a team that should have swept them, and yet all they are talking about is how much fun the playoffs are with the highs and lows. Instead of saying how excited you are to bounce back in game three, let’s wait and see if your gameplay shows that. Nothing is given, there is no guarantee that there will be another high on this rollercoaster of an NHL play-in series.

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I know having a cool head is an advantage during any long series, but right now we need to see the Blackhawks go out on the ice and play some of the best hockey of their lives if they want to have any chance of winning this series. They are not going to play any different unless they play with the mentality that every game is their last.