During Game 3 the Boston Bruins blanked the Chicago
Blackhawks 2-0, a series that was once tilted in favor of the Blackhawks now has them
playing on their heels. The Bruins did not just win Game 3 but they dominated
the Blackhawks. They seem to have
figured their game out; from defense to offense they are leaving no holes in
their game. The Bruins are doing all the
right things. Game 3 was built off of
the Bruins momentum from the end of Game 2, where they were excelling and
creating opportunities from unlikely sources. The Bruins continue to excel at the physical
aspect of the game, leaving no path of least resistance for the
Blackhawks. The Bruins, who came off of
a clean sweep of the Pittsburgh Penguins to lose Game 1 of the final to the
Blackhawks now, are in the position to end the series by Game 5. The Blackhawks
are facing a few challenges in this series.
Their weak power play has gotten the best of them; they need to have a power
play strategy, practice the power play and put the power play out of their mind
once it is over. Ray Ferraro, now TSN analyst who made his living on the power
play during his NHL career said:
"You have to be careful not to let an ineffective
power play seep into the rest of your game and frustrate you.”
In addition to their
ineffective power plays, minutes before Game 3 started the Blackhawks lost high
scoring right winger, Marian Hossa to an upper body injury; Hossa is expected
to return for Game 4 which could impact the Blackhawks power play. With talented players like: Kane, Toews,
Hossa, Sharp and Keith in the lineup it’s puzzling why the power play is such
an issue. Another issue facing the
Blackhawks is: Tuukka Rask. The Blackhawks
need to score goals, which means they have to get the puck past the glove hand
of Rask. In order for the Blackhawks to
score on him they will need to force rebound opportunities and overwhelm Rask
with bodies in front of the net. Instead
of trying to score on Rask straight on, the Blackhawks will have to block Rask
with bodies and shot around him to score.
The Blackhawks needed a clean sweep in Boston to put the Bruins in a 3-1
hole like LA, but a split in Boston will still put the Blackhawks in a good
position.
Going into Game 4 tonight the Blackhawks still have a
chance. They are a proven team; the
Blackhawks are more battletested after defeating the reigning champs: The L.A
Kings, a rigid and regimented team who had the best chance of a repeat cup
after the extended off season this year.
Also a note worthy accomplishment for the Blackhawks from the second
round was their comeback from a 3-1 series deficit to beat the Detroit
Redwings. The Blackhawks can once again
tilt the series in their favor despite their weak power play. In fact, power play woes have plagued the
last two teams who won the Stanley Cup, Boston Bruins 2011 and L.A Kings 2012;
ineffective power plays did not prevent either team from winning the Stanley
Cup. The Blackhawks will have to take the ice tonight and out play the Bruins with their special teams and the Bruins will be relying on Rask for another clean sweep in the net.
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