The Blackhawks look to get back on track with a complete 60-minute effort versus the Panthers. On the improvement docket: ensuring full defensive coverage, passing better, and sustaining offensive pressure.
However, one has to wonder if the current skid is a sign of how the second half of the season will be here on out or if this is a momentary bump on the road that's part of the growth curve?
There's no doubt that this is part of the rebuilding process given the sheer number of rookies and youngsters on the roster plus having the top 3 centers out with ailments and inexperienced goalies in net.
But will the Hawks be able to get fully back on course en route to maintaining and securing a playoff berth or will they be in a downward spiral toward the bottom of the division and the league?
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Team Wall
Either way, most fans are just happy with how competitive the team is so far this season no matter the outcome of games. Is it concerning, though, that they have been losing by a wider margin lately?
It's definitely worth noting with one possible solution being avoiding multi-goal outbursts by the opposition. Not only do the goalies need to bounce back swiftly after a goal against but the skaters do, too.
In other words, while the goalie is the last line of defense, the first and second lines are the forwards and blueliners. How are they -- or are they not -- pulling their weight in this regard?
The team's professed persona is based on work ethic and compete level. That's part of the equation but can only go so far. The other part of the equation is playing smart fundamental hockey.
On defense, those basics include scanning the ice to ensure every opponent is accounted for and covered, keeping favorable gaps to neutralize attacks, and gaining inside positioning by the net.
Once possession is regained, transition the puck by first moving their feet to proceed up ice and get closer to passing targets. Then once teammates are open, make short crisp passes to keep advancing.
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Player Walls
As for particular players -- namely the rookies and sophomores -- each of them will hit the proverbial wall developmentally at some point but the hope is that they don't do so simultaneously.
When they do, being healthy scratched like Ian Mitchell was for a pair of games and Matthew Highmore many times already is a good move to get a breather, refresh, and learn from a different perspective.
Another method is to spend time in the AHL for a short spell to not only log big minutes but also work on specific aspects of their game. Lucas Carlsson, Nicolas Beaudin, and Wyatt Kalynuk did just that.
Then there are the netminders who surged during the first third of the season but have recently come back to earth. Like pitchers in baseball, other teams in the division have tape now on how to solve them.
So what Kevin Lankinen and Malcolm Subban can do is rotate starts so they can work with goalie coach Jimmy Waite to refine their games: make adjustments to technique and game strategy to combat stagnation.
Yet, it should be noted that some youngsters haven't run into the wall. Perhaps they will later or perhaps they won't at all given their general steady play and ways to contribute when offense runs dry.
Dominik Kubalik, Philipp Kurashev, Pius Suter, and Brandon Hagel come to mind. While they are leaned on to provide offense, they also are defensively dependable and compete hard away from the puck.
Then there's Adam Boqvist who hit the wall early on before going into COVID protocol and for a brief stretch after coming off of it. Now, though, he's coming into his own more and more with each passing game.
Additionally, Boqvist's maturation isn't just on the offensive side of the ledger with what made him a 1st round pick in 2018, i.e. sleek skating, superb passing, wicked shooting, and high hockey IQ.
More importantly and even amazingly is his vast upgrades on the defensive side of the ledger. He's better at managing gaps, wielding an active stick, providing net coverage, and disrupting the opposition.
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Game Day
Game 30, March 15:
Blackhawks @ Panthers
6:00pm CST
Records:
Blackhawks, 14-10-5, 33 Pts (4th)
Panthers, 18-5-4, 40 Pts (3rd)
Season Series:
0-2-1
Goals For/Game:
Blackhawks, 3.00 (14th)
Panthers, 3.41 (2nd)
Goals Against/Game:
Blackhawks, 3.10 (19th)
Panthers, 2.81 (12th)
Power Play:
Blackhawks, 26-88, 29.6% (3rd)
Panthers, 21-82, 25.6% (8th)
Penalty Kill:
Blackhawks, 67-90, 74.4% (24th)
Panthers, 63-80, 78.8% (16th)
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See you on the boards!
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • 
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