The stretch pass can be overused by players that don't scan their options and look for what seems to be the easiest outlet but is often the easiest to telegraph and intercept. But teams that can routinely perform in the clutch regularly convert those passes.
Sam Lafferty did just that by connecting with Jonathan Toews who notched what ultimately became the game-winning goal in the 3-1 victory over the Flyers. Scoring clutch goals or having any clutch moments have been few and far between for the Blackhawks captain.
Furthermore, it's tough for a team mired in a miserable season and on the front end of a rebuild to have clutch moments. Those moments are fleeting in dismal times yet Toews turned one in last night as he converted on a breakaway after popping out of the penalty box.
Coincidentally, eight years ago to the day was when Toews registered one of his most clutch goals in his illustrious career. In the above tweet is the OT GWG he deposited to give the Hawks a 3-2 lead in the 1st round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Blues.
If you watch closely, though, there were two other clutch plays that made that moment happen. Two-time Norris Trophy winner Duncan Keith first made the right move to not chase a charging David Backes, gain inside positioning down the middle instead, and flip the ice swiftly.
Today's Hawks defense would have left the center lane wide open for the opponent to exploit and get a free shot at Corey Crawford. However, Keith's sublime defensive acumen led him to take away that option as partner Michal Rozsival forced Backes to an outside shot.
Then the other clutch play that made Toews' breakaway possible was Andrew Shaw (illegally) clamping his arm down on the stick of the trailer Alexander Steen who otherwise would have had a free path to the net. As they say, if you're not cheating then you're not trying.
That trio of clutch plays in a matter of seconds is what helps teams not only compete game in and game out but ascend to and stay on the high perch as perennial contenders. This capacity to convert in the clutch is one major element missing from today's Hawks.
There are always going to be highlight reel plays or the top line of Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat, and Dylan Strome lighting up the opponent. What's different, though, is more often than not those plays are inconsequential to the game's outcome and overall season trajectory.
Regaining that clutch mentality and enhanced conversion rate -- even during the early stages of the rebuild -- is critical to boost the franchise's fortune from a horrible mess to mediocrity to above average to elite level. There's another important factor, too.
Teams that are in the upper echelon of the league don't rely on a select few to succeed in the clutch. Instead, everyone chips in and anyone can be the hero because of relentless compete, cohesion as units shift after shift, and dedication to structure in all zones.
During the recent Cup era, it wasn't just Toews, Keith, and Shaw. It was also Kane and Crawford. It was also Brent Seabrook, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Marian Hossa, Patrick Sharp, Bryan Bickell, Dave Bolland, Marcus Kruger, Andrew Ladd, and Scott Darling.
For the Hawks to rise from the ashes, it needs to be more than just Toews, Kane, and DeBrincat. It needs to be Strome, Kirby Dach, Lukas Reichel, Taylor Raddysh, Boris Katchouk, Reese Johnson, Seth Jones, Riley Stillman, Ian Mitchell, Alec Regula, and Kevin Lankinen.
Honestly, it doesn't matter who the exact cast of characters are.
Again, everyone needs to chip in so that anyone can be the hero.
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Blackhawks Game Summary
Monday Boxscore
DeBrincat - Strome - Kane
Kubalik - Toews - T Johnson
Kurashev - Lafferty - Raddysh
Katchouk - R Johnson - Borgstrom
Vlasic - S Jones
McCabe - Regula
Stillman - Gustafsson
Lankinen
Delia
Scratches:
Dach, Entwistle, de Haan, C Jones
1st Goal (1-0): Gustafsson (Toews, Kubalik)
2nd Goal (2-0): Toews (Lafferty)
3rd Goal (2-1): Hayes (Laughton, Konecny)
4th Goal (3-1): DeBrincat (Kane, McCabe)
SOG For/Against: 33/34
PP: 0-for-5
PK: 4-for-4
Faceoffs Won: 54%
Highlights
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IceHogs Notebook
School's out! Jaxson Stauber finished his spring semester studies at Providence College and has rejoined the IceHogs as the 3rd string netminder on his second amateur tryout to finish out the 2021-22 campaign. His NHL entry-level contract kicks in next season.
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See you on the boards!
Sources: Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald, NBC Sports Chicago, The Athletic Chicago
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • 
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