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