Blackhawks: 3 Takeaways from Game 3 against Golden Knights

Takeaway #1: Fix the Powerplay

Another game, another scoreless night with the man advantage for the Blackhawks. Heading into an elimination game in Game 4 of the series, the Powerplay needs to be adjusted. Clearly the current lines are not working. The Blackhawks again went 0-4 with the extra man again tonight, and are only 1-8 (12.5%) for the entire series.

Jeremy Colliton needs to adjust the lines. Every single powerplay during Saturday’s night game featured the same bodies on the ice for the majority of the time. If he wants to reignite Alex DeBrincat, putting him back on the PP1 would be a good opportunity to do so.

DeBrincat had a very good night tonight, as he registered 8 shots on goal. He only received roughly 2:41 of ice time on the PP, whereas Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, and Dominik Kubalik each had over 5 minutes.

If you put Debrincat across from Patrick Kane on the powerplay, good things seem to happen. Here’s an example from earlier this season:

Also, it was the line of Jonathan Toews, Dominik Kubalik, and Brandon Saad that was torching opposing defenses earlier this season. Why not put this line together on the powerplay? What could it really hurt at this point? Going off of that point, why not try playing Alex Nylander on the PP1 as well. He has so much talent at times, and maybe being alongside Kane would allow him to show this. I think the Blackhawks should try these lines on the man advantage:

PP1: DeBrincat-Strome-Kane-Keith-Nylander

PP2: Saad-Toews-Dach-Kubalik-Boqvist

Takeaway #2: Missed Opportunities

Chicago had a boatload of missed opportunities in tonight’s matchup. As I stated earlier, Alex DeBrincat had 8 shots alone, all of which were saved. Many of these were dangerous chances that could have changed the game had he been able to convert.

DeBrincat was not the only one that failed to capitalize on the Blackhawks. Jonathan Toews had a few decent looks as well, but the best chance of the night came near the end of the first period. Olli Maatta received the puck at the point and sent a beautiful no-look pass across to Patrick Kane. Kane had a wide-open net to one-time the puck but failed to convert. He rang the shot off the outside of the post. Had the shot gone in, it would have tied the game at 1 heading into the intermission, and who knows what would have happened after.

Also as I alluded to earlier, Chicago started out the second and third periods on the Powerplay. If they had scored, this could have caused a major change in momentum. They failed to score on both opportunities as Vegas was able to maintain their lead in the game.

This game as a whole essentially summed up how the Blackhawks have played so far in this series. Chicago has so many post hits in the series, and the amount of missed opportunities has deflated the Hawks’ chances of winning the series.

Takeaway #3: Win or Go Home

Now on the brink of elimination, the Blackhawks need to show up in Game 4. A big way to start tomorrow’s game off with a bang would be to try scoring the first goal of the game for once. Every game in this series, Vegas has tallied the opening goal.

The Hawks also struggled in the Edmonton series with scoring the first tally, therefore if they are able to come out and put some on the board early it would help out majorly.

As Colliton stated after the game, the Blackhawks have absolutely nothing to lose now. This means that they have no pressure to perform in Game 4 and that they can go out and try to play their game.

With the game being a win or go home scenario the Blackhawks also need to up their physicality level. They haven’t even been close to matching the Golden Knights in terms of laying the body, as they have been outhit in every single game.

The core needs to step up big time in tonight’s matchup if the Blackhawks want to stand a chance at surviving. After really good opening round performances by Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith, they have looked almost invisible this series.

The Blackhawks will look to have everyone firing on all cylinders when they take the ice tonight. Game time is scheduled for 6:30 pm CT and the game can be seen on NBCSN.