NHL 2009 Western Conference Finals Impressions
How the Blackhawks Can Counter the Red Wings Scoring Depth
May 20, 2009
Through the first 120 minutes of play, the Detroit Red Wings have shown the young Blackhawks why they are the defending Stanley Cup champions. In handing the Hawks their first overtime playoff defeat, the Wings have given them their first true test. Can they rebound from a disheartening overtime defeat and a 2-0 hole which they have yet to face? While the answers will not begin to show themselves until Game 3 on Friday night at the United Center, there are 3 keys for the Blackhawks moving forward.
Getting Kane Into the Action
While captain and star center Jonathan Toews got himself going in Game 2 with the Hawks only 2 goals, through two games Patrick Kane's name has yet to appear on the score sheet. The Hawks need only look back to last year's Stanley Cup Finals to learn what happens when your stars don't come out firing against the veteran Wings. Penguins superstar Evgeni Malkin's name did not appear on the score sheet until the third overtime of game 5, when he assisted on Petr Sykora's overtime winner. For the series, Malkin recorded as many penalties as he did points, and his absence was a determining factor in Pittsburgh's eventual defeat in 6 games at the hands of the Wings. In order for Chicago to avoid a similar fate, Kane must be more assertive offensively.
Consolidating Scoring Power
Anaheim proved in Round 2 that one dominant scoring line can put the Red Wings on their heels. With their top line of Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and Bobby Ryan the Ducks seemed to carry the play when the first liners were on the ice. While the Hawks certainly played better in Game 2, splitting up Kane and Toews should end as a one game experiment. If the Hawks are to push the Red Wings, they will need to rejoin the two on a first line along with power forward Dustin Byfuglien. Byfuglien provides a nice complement to the finesse and puck handling ability of his younger counterparts. He creates havoc in front of the net, and will make it that much easier for Kane and Toews to get the puck in the net. The scoring depth of the Hawks is also much better than that of the Ducks, with a potential second line of Martin Havlat, Dave Bolland, and Kris Versteeg.
Shifting the Defensive Focus
Perhaps the most important thing for the Hawks moving forward is shifting and improving their defensive focus. A huge defensive brain fart by Kane after an offensive zone turnover by d-man Brian Campbell cost the Hawks game 2, and highlighted the need for the team to sharpen it's defensive focus. The first step they need to take in shoring up their defense is to put defensemen Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook on the ice against the Wings line of Samuelsson, Valtteri Filppula, and Jiri Hudler. Thus far in the series it has been Samuelsson, Filppula and Hudler which have taken the play to the Hawks and been the Red Wings most lethal weapons. Getting Keith and Seabrook on the ice against these three will be made easier with the game being played in Chicago, giving the Hawks the last line change. The Hawks cannot fail to take advantage.
