Blackhawks know they must be better in Game 2
CHICAGO - When Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville was asked about his team's 27-0 record this season when leading after two periods, he instinctively rapped twice on his wooden podium.
It's not luck that has carried the Blackhawks to five wins in their first seven playoff games this spring, but the Blackhawks are savvy enough to know that their sharpness and consistency must improve to have their best chance of winning a third Stanley Cup in the salary cap era.
"Nobody wants to be up three goals and give up three goals in 10 minutes," Chicago defenseman Johnny Oduya said. "I don't think that's anyone's game plan."
The Blackhawks have disposed of the Nashville Predators and now have a 1-0 lead on the Minnesota Wild in the Western Conference semifinal, despite giving up 3.43 goals per game.
Only the ousted Winnipeg Jets have a higher goals-against average in this year's playoffs.
Giving up nearly 38 shots per game in the playoffs, the Blackhawks rank last in that category. They gave up roughly 30 shots per game during the regular season.
The Blackhawks have the NHL's second-worst penalty killing, although they had two important kills in the third period of Game 1. The Wild's power play has been clicking 33.3% of the time in the postseason.
The Blackhawks have surrendered three goals in a period five times already this postseason. Their leading-after-two stat proves they are skilled survivalists, but if you continually make mistakes on an ascent, you likely will fall off the side of the mountain.
"We need to tighten up a little," Oduya said. "You don't want guys hanging out by themselves in the slot and getting opportunities. That's something you want to keep away from. You don't want to put stress on your goalies to come up with big saves."
In the regular season, the Blackhawks won often on the strength of quality defensive play and goaltending. In this postseason, they have won on the strength of guile and goals.
Minnesota coach Mike Yeo said pure skill is the No. 1 reason why the Blackhawks find ways to prevail.
"At the end of the day, you give them an opportunity and they capitalize on it," he said.
But the Blackhawks' advantage goes beyond raw skill. Veterans on this team have the equivalent of a master's degree in winning. Other teams have questions, and this team has answers because it has passed many tests through the years.
"They've won two Cups and they know they can do it," said Wild defenseman Marco Scandella. "We just have to bring a lot of speed next game."
Watching the Wild strike for three goals to erase a 3-0 deficit in Game 1 is another reminder that this team isn't the same one that the Blackhawks eliminated in each of the last two postseasons.
The Wild haven't lost two consecutive games in regulation since a four-game losing streak from Jan. 8-13.
"We're looking at a team that's played as well as anyone over the last 50 games," Quenneville said. "That's our challenge. They're dangerous, they're fast. They're quick. They have a lot of weaponry in their attack. They have a mobile defense. We have a dangerous team on the other side and they're going to get their turns. Every game is going to be on the line."
The Wild are far more confident than they were, even a year ago.
"We've gained a lot of experience two years ago," Minnesota forward Charlie Coyle said. "We had a lot of young guys in this locker room with no playoff experience at all, and gaining that the last two years has helped us feel a little bit more comfortable coming into the playoffs and knowing what to expect and get right into it."
In the last 36 games of the regular season, the Wild lost only twice by a margin of more than a goal. They are in every game and they will beat Chicago unless the Blackhawks rediscover the level of consistency they showed during their Stanley Cup seasons.
"I think," Yeo said, "we have their attention more than we have in the past."
PHOTOS: Second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs
