Chicago Blackhawks

No need to panic!! The series is only 2-1 (Picture courtesy of themainwire.com) I totally understand the reasons why Chicago fans are already pushing the panic button after only three games of the Western Conference Semi-final series. With Detroit winning two straight games and taking a 2 games to 1 lead the Blackhawk faithful have starting to lose faith and punching the panic button.  Yes, many, too many of our teams have let us down throughout the years from the late 80′s Bears to Bartman Cubs to even last years choke job by the White Sox in the last week of the season.  This is only three games in, so the series is just beginning and here is some reasons why it’s not time to panic. 1. Detroit has played almost perfect hockey.  The Detroit game plan has been perfect and well-played in Games #2 and #3 playing defensive hockey with just enough sprinkling of offense.  The Red Wings playing a Nashville type man back defense has been frustrating for the Hawks offensive stars, but let’s not forget the Hawks were down 2-1 to the Predators in 2010 and were struggling offensively against a goalie playing great until they figured out how to beat the defensive set up and took the series 4-2. 2. The bounces haven’t gone the Hawks way- The Hawks had a goal waved off that shouldn’t have been and in Game #3 they hit the goal post three times.  A glass half empty fan would say that this is a sign that they are destined to lose the series, but I see it as a fact that the bounces are about to change in favor of the Hawks. 3. The Hawks haven’t lost three straight games all year.  This team has found a way to stop any kind of negative roll all year long from the opening bell until now. There is no reason to think that the Hawks are not going to break this two game losing streak Thursday night and start another one of their long 2013 winning streaks. 4. Captain Serious Will Turn The Tide- Jonathan Toews has been a fraction off for 9 games now but history says this will change and change real quick. Yes, he’s playing his mirror image Pavel Datsyuk and the Red Wings best defensive pairing, but Toews doesn’t have a Gold Medal, Conn Smyth Trophy and his name on the Stanley Cup without being a great star player that will lead the Hawks to Victory. Yes, the first three games didn’t go as planned but the extra day off will give the Hawks time to regroup, organize, and attack the Red Wings in game 4 and calm the panic in Blackhawk Nation. What do you think? Are you still far removed from the panic button? I know I am! For more Blackhawks conversation or updates follow us on Twitter @Blackhawk_Up or Like us on Facebook at Blackhawk Up.

Boston Bruins (GDT) @ New York Rangers (GDT) Game 3 (BOS leads 2-0) 6:30pm, NBCSN Los Angeles Kings (GDT) @ San Jose Sharks (GDT) Game 4 (LA leads 2-1) 9pm, NBCSN

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Blackhawks don't need to be reminded the importance of Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday. If the Blackhawks win, they regain home-ice advantage and even the series at 2-2. If they lose, the series leans heavily in the Red Wings' favor. Of the 229 past best-of-seven series, only 20 times, an 8.7 percentage, has a team come back from a 3-1 deficit to win the series. "You throw around terms like must win and all that," Blackhawks forward Patrick Sharp said on Tuesday.

CHICAGO -- Scoring has rarely been an issue for the Chicago Blackhawks this season. The Blackhawks ranked second in the league with 149 goals for (3.10 goals per game) and weren't shut out during the regular season. Their offensive ways continued in the first round of the playoffs as they averaged 3.4 goals in five games against the Minnesota Wild. But after opening the Western Conference semifinal series with a four-goal output against the Detroit Red Wings in Game 1, the Blackhawks' production has been slowed to a trickle in the past two games.

Frustration seemed on the verge of boiling over in the final minute of the Blackhawks' 3-1 loss to the Red Wings that put them in a 2-1 hole in their Western Conference playoff series. But the Hawks are acting like they've been here before. And they have. ''We're down 2-1, but it's not the end of the world,'' defenseman Michal Rozsival said Tuesday at the United Center. ''We're playing a good opponent. It's not over yet.'' After winning the series opener 4-1 at the United Center, the Blackhawks lost 4-1 at home in Game 2 and 3-1 in Game 3 at Joe Louis Arena on Monday night. They are undaunted by the prospect of going down 3-1 with another game at Joe Louis Arena on Thursday night. ''It's gonna be a long series. I think we knew that going in,'' Hawks forward Patrick Sharp said. ''You never want to lose games, but you can certainly take positives out of it and build off things.'' After a less-than-stellar effort in Game 2, the Hawks increased their ''compete level'' in all phases of the game in Game 3 and still lost by two goals. But after missing out on several good scoring opportunities -- particularly Viktor Stalberg's close-in shot that hit the crossbar and Stalberg's third-period goal that was disallowed for goaltender interference -- the Hawks figure the same effort could bring better results in Game 4. ''I don't think there's any worry or panic in our locker room,'' Sharp said when asked about the team's scoring troubles -- two goals in the last two games. ''We created a few chances. There were plenty of opportunities out there, hit a couple of posts. Goals are gonna come when you least expect them.''

It's getting close to do-or-die time for the Chicago Blackhawks. Down 2-1 in their playoff series with the Detroit Red Wings, they have to play better collectively and as individuals. Contrary to some beliefs, Jonathan Toews isn't playing all that bad. His only problem is that pucks aren't going in for him, but he's getting his chances and he's still playing productive hockey. There are other players (or coaches) who need to step up far more than the captain.

concern - to be a care, trouble, or distress to panic - a sudden overwhelming fear, with or without cause, that produces hysterical or irrational behavior, and that often spreads quickly through a group of persons or animals. We should all be concerned with the Hawks Game 3 loss, and trailing the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 in a best of seven series. Do we need to hit the panic button yet? No. Now if the Hawks drop Game 4 Thursday night, then it's time for a mass freak out. Last night's game is the type of game that make me wish the internet would swallow itself whole. There are a lot of people who are breaking their ankles jumping off the Blackhawks bandwagon and that's fine. We will remember who you are when you try and get back on. Some people think the Hawks got blown away last night. That just isn't true. Game 3 was a much better performance than Game 2, but there is still room for improvement. It took and bad 31 seconds, 3 goal posts and a horrible call on a disallowed goal in order for the Wings to pull off the win. Being down 2-1 is not a death sentence. A win on Thursday makes this a best 2 out of 3 series with two games at the United Center. The Hawks played a decent 1st period as they out shot the Wings 15-9. Their first power play of the night actually looked good. They showed great movement and did everything but score a goal. The Wings gave the Hawks the middle of the ice during the first period, but that changed after the first intermission. The 2nd period started with an early power play for the Hawks. After the power play ended they were able to keep the puck in the Detroit zone for over 2 minutes but came up with nothing to show for it. I am pretty sure I wasn't the only one who thought that not scoring a goal on that sequence would end up biting them in the ass later. The Wings opened the scoring at 7:49 of the middle frame on a play that started with the theme of the night; a Blackhawks faceoff loss. Andrew Shaw lost the draw in his own end and Damien Brunner quickly got the puck out to center ice where a streaking Gustav Nyquist got control of it. Once Nyquist gained the zone he faked an over committed Brent Seabrook right out of his breezers and got the puck past Corey Crawford. Things went from bad to worse as the openly gray Drew Miller deflected a puck past Crow just 31 seconds later for a 2-0 Wings lead. The play was caused by a terrible Michal Roszival turnover in his own end. The fact that all 3 forwards, the 4th line, were heading out of the zone early instead of taking care of their defensive responsibilities didn't help things either. The Hawks played a pretty good 3rd period, at least until the wheels came off. Patrick Kane got the Hawks on the board with his 2nd goal in as many games. The play started with a borderline hit on Johan Franzen, behind the Wings net, from Niklas Hjalmarsson. It looked as if Franzen turned his back to Hjammer at the very last second. As Franzen laid dying on the ice, Duncan Kieth lifted a long pass and hit Kaner, at center ice, streaking in for the momentum changing goal. Just over a minute later it looked as if the Hawks tied the game on a Viktor Stalberg goal, but it was waived off for goaltender interference by Andrew Shaw. More on the call in the bullets but that was turning point of the game. And just over a minute later Pavel Datsyuk made the game 3-1 with the primary assist coming from a miraculously recovered Franzen, who may or may not have been offside on the play. The remainder of the game got a bit ugly for the Hawks as their frustration showed and they lost their composure. Now they get two days off to come back and realize they have to work to win this series. They are going to have to more than just put their sticks on the ice to win a hockey game. It will be interesting to see if the extra day off kills the Wings momentum like it seemed to do to the Hawks after Game 1. * Let's start off with the play

May 20, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Red Wings center Joakim Andersson (63) and Chicago Blackhawks center Dave Bolland (36) battle for the puck in the third period in game three of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Joe Louis Arena. Detroit won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports Last night’s only game Detroit Red Wings-3 Chicago Blackhawks-1 (Detroit leads 2-1) The Red Wings catch a break when a very bad call on Andrew Shaw allows for the ref to signal no goal.  The Hawks never scored after that point and now trail in the series. (The Committed Indian) (Hockee Night) Tonight’s Action Boston Bruins at New York Rangers 6:30 pm (Bruins lead series 2-0) The Bruins have dominated the series to this point but this is when Henrik Lundqvist takes over…right? (NHL) (Causeway Crowd) Los Angeles Kings at San Jose Sharks (Kings lead series 2-1) Will the Sharks carry the overtime momentum into Game #4 and tie the series up at 2? (LA Times) (San Jose Mercury News)

Game 3 recaps (CSN *autoplay, CtA, DFP) Blackhawks facing adversity for the first time this year (ESPN Chicago) Troubles continue for Hawks D (Tribune) Puck Daddy's take on the disallowed goal Jonathan Quick likes to yell about stuff (BoC) Blues swap of AHL affiliates is hard on Peoria (STL Today) Patrick Roy's brother goes the Tim Thomas route and says Roy will be the next Avalanche coach on Facebook (Denver Post) Tough decisions loom for the Bruins (Boston Herald)

The Blackhawks came up short against a dominant Jimmy Howard and the Red Wings in Detroit on Monday night, and now trail in their Western Conference semifinal series. The Hawks came out more physical than they were in Saturday’s disappointing … Continue reading →The post Jimmy Howard, Red Wings Beat Blackhawks Again appeared first on Committed Indians.