Chicago Blackhawks; Now or Never

The Chicago Blackhawks are faced with a huge challenge tonight, win or look in the face of elimination.

I have been saying for a while now (Team of Destiny and in a couple of YouTube videos) that we need to appreciate what we were watching on the ice and not be critical, however now is the time for critical! I don't want to be that typical Meathead Chicago Sports fan and start pushing the panic button, but the Hawks have not looked too good against the Redwings through the last 2 games. Very little intensity, very little domination.

This is only a 2-1 lead for Detroit, but with this lead Detroit has put themselves in position to have home ice. Tonight's game is in Detroit, and the remainder of the series is Chicago, Detroit, Chicago. This isn't a great position for the Hawks to be in, however even their 2010 Stanley Cup Championship team was down 2-1 at one point.

Keys

1. Jonathan Toews - The Tazer needs a lazer to find the back of the net. Thus far Zetterberg has dominated their match-up, and Toews has been almost non-existent.

2. Intensity - The Blackhawks showed some of the necessary intensity in the final 3:30 minutes of Game 3, they need to fill all 60 minutes in Game 4 if they plan on winning.

3. Smart Play - Penalties are going to happen in all sports, hockey is no exception, but there is a difference between a smart penalty and a careless dumb penalty. Chicago has committed more penalties in the series (17-13) and luckily Detroit hasn't scored (Chicago is perfect in the playoffs on the Penalty Kill). The Hawks carelessly allowed 5 Power Play chances in the 3rd period of Game 3, all but guaranteeing their loss.

4. Stars need to be stars. For as good as Patrick Sharp was against Minnesota, he has seemingly disappeared verse Detroit. Hossa scored a Power Play goal in Game 1, but has yet to have a notable offensive play since, and we've already highlighted Toews. Kane has been the only one to continuously light the lamp (regular season and playoffs), but you would like to see even more production from him (after game 1).

5. Goaltending - So far Corey Crawford hasn't been the problem, but he has allowed a couple of soft goals in this series. Corey is your horse, and the guy the Hawks will ride. I don't like suggesting this, as it isn't exactly typical, the Hawks should give Ray Emery a chance in goal. I say this because all season the 2 goalies shared duties, and over the course of the last few games it seemed as if Crow wasn't as sharp as he was early on. There is a huge confidence level in Emery, which allows for this switch to happen, and could pay dividends later in the playoffs.

Team of Destiny

From the beginning of this strike shortened roller coaster ride of a season the +Chicago Blackhawks  have been a team possessed. With their record setting points streak to start a season, to their tremendous goal tender play, to the incredible play of Patrick Kane, this team seems to be on course for a special season.

With the +NHL  Stanley Cup Playoffs underway, and the Hawks holding a commanding 3-1 series lead on the Minnesota Wild, the Hawks should be moving along to the 2nd round for the first time since their incredible 2010 Stanley Cup run. From the beginning of the season I have been extremely adamant about 1 thing, do not put tons of expectations on this team, rather enjoy this ride we are all on. What I mean by not putting expectations on the team is this, if we all expect them to hoist the cup at the end of the year we could lose sight of the absolutely spectacular play on the ice.

How many Hawks fans realize the Blackhawks record with Patrick Sharp playing this season? Did you realize that Sharpy didn't lose his first game until Game 3 against the Wild? The Hawks, with Patrick Sharp playing are 26-1-3.



Another record that we saw this year was the best start to a season from a goalie. Ray Emery started the 2012-2013 season (or 2013 season...) 10-0-0. This marked the best start for a goalie in NHL history. His credentials didn't stop there however. Both Emery and Corey Crawford won the Jennings Award for the team that gave up the least amount of goals. Both tenders finished the season with a GAA under 2.00 and very respectable save percentages (both in the .920's). Both goalies also finished the season with 3 shutouts a piece, and Crow added another shutout in Game 4 verse the Wild.

The undeniable star of the first half of the regular season was hands down, Patrick Kane. Kaner seemed to shed his party-boy persona and developed into the player people thought he was going to be. Kane averaged 1.17 Points Per Game, finished 5th in the league in goals (23) and 5th in the league in points (55). If there was a negative on his season it might be he only finished with a very respectable +/- 11 on the year.



My Captain. Jonathan Toews put in another stellar season for the Blackhawks. Considered by most as one of the top forwards in the league, Tazer has been this teams leader since his second season in the league. "Captain Serious" as he is coined, finished the year with a team lead tie in goals (23, tied with Kane) and a +/- 23 on the season. It seems like anytime Toews is on the ice, good things happen.

This team grabbed the Presidents Trophy for the first time since the 1990-91 season, when they lost to the +Pittsburgh Penguins in the Finals (possible rematch), and marked the 4th time in team history they finished with the best record/most points in the regular season.

With a regular season record of 36-7-5, 77 regular season points, a 24 game point streak to start the season, and 2 top 5 goal scorers, this is special team to watch. Please take every play in, like your first cup of coffee in the morning. Enjoy every cross ice crisp pass, every stick save, every scrum win in a corner, ensuring that the season is completely enjoyable for you, otherwise your expectations might take some of the enjoyment away.