Some subtle, but highly impactful things, the Hawks are doing or failing to do, are keeping the team from playing to their potential and playing consistently.

Game Readiness: For nearly three years, the Hawks have struggled to play a full sixty minute game. Often, the Hawks start games slowly, and are dominated by their opponent in the first period. Whatever game prep the Hawks are doing individually and as a team, is not working. Really wonder what kind of mental training and visualization the players do.

Game Tempo: For all the gushing Hawk announcers were giving Vegas last night, their success was driven by three simple things: full-speed foot movement by every Golden Knight, never giving up on a play, and quick, decisive puck movement. Setting a team’s “foot tempo” happens in training camp and in practice. Really wonder what demands the coaching staff have made of the players to move with the effort, desire, and purpose Vegas does. Any team can move like Vegas did last night if the “foot tempo” is ingrained into the players’ playing DNA. And really wonder why the entire Hawk bench isn’t on an extremely short shift leash – including the Dmen.

Game Awareness: Poor in-game decisions often drive the poor play of the Hawks as a team. Things like players skating by their own bench only to decide moments later to go for a shift change when they reach their own zone. (A top talent player that is tired is nowhere near as effective defensively as an average player with fresh legs.) Players passing the puck to teammates who are going for a shift change and have their back to the play. Forwards passing the puck back into the Hawk zone to Hawk Dmen, who are gassed and in need of change. Hawk Dmen unable to execute simple D to D passing. Hawk Dmen constantly standing still with the puck in their own zone. Hawk Dmen constantly telegraphing passes. Hawk Dmen constantly slowing the game tempo down, instead of pushing the pace. Young Hawks who turn the puck over, but then compound their mistake by chasing the puck all over the Hawks defensive zone – leaving their man alone – and that man usually scores the goal for the other team. Really wonder what is driving some players’ decision-making.

Game Toughness: Like individuals, teams have an identity. But you would be hard-pressed to describe this year’s Blackhawks on-ice team identity. A team’s on-ice identity is forged by the collective psyche of Hawk players, coaching staff, and GM. A team without an on-ice identity is usually easy to play against. And far too often, the Blackhawks are easy to play against. Compete level doesn’t mean “meathead hockey” – it means that the team and each individual player is committed – together – to winning every shift. Blackhawk fans have not seen this kind of team commitment often enough. Really wonder about the endless hype of the billion dollar Blackhawk brand. Has the promotion of the “off-ice” team identity created unnecessary obstacles for the players to consistently play their best hockey?

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Here are seven specific things the Hawks can do that should lead to more power play goals:

1. Have multiple Hawks hitting the blue line with speed during offensive zone entries. Many times the only Blackhawk hitting the line with speed is the puck carrier. The other four players are either standing still or slowly gliding. All are spectating. Or, a slowly moving puck carrier makes a pass to the only teammate hitting the line with speed. Having multiple Hawks hitting the line with speed creates more options and puck support to make plays off the rush. Too much emphasis on avoiding going offside instead of trying for a dynamic goal-scoring play.
2. Run a set face-off play to generate a quick scoring chance after winning an offensive zone draw. The Blackhawks have a tendency to revert to “setting things up” when they win puck possession in the offensive zone. The end result is a power play that has too many players always in first gear with their feet. The
   Blackhawks should be looking to score as quickly as possible after every offensive zone draw they win. And their desire to do so should be reflected in their intensity and determination.
3. Use the high tip to expand the power play shooting arsenal. The Hawks seldom execute the high tip as a shot option on the power play (or at any strength). Goalies around the NHL know this. And so, they don’t have to worry about it, making their life on the penalty kill a lot easier. The high tip is tough for the goalie to pick up, creates slot chaos, blown penalty kill coverages, and goals.
4. Set moving screens in front of the goalie with two forwards. Of the current Hawks usually on the power play, only Artem Anisimov consistently “holds his ground” right in front of the net. Other Hawk forwards would be more effective as screeners by moving across the front of the net, from post-to-post in units of two, crossing right in front of the goalie. If no shot comes, cross again. And again.
5. Let Patrick Kane go one-on-one with his first penalty kill defender. Activate an NBA-style clear out play for Kane. Have the other four Hawks all move to the other side of the ice, as far away from Kane as possible. Or, have all four Hawks all plant themselves right in front of the net. Give Kane the green light to create something the forces the penalty killers to react to what he is doing.
6. Take a page from the Red Army on offensive zone entries. The Red Army hockey team expanded their thinking about the attack blue line. They were comfortable running entries in which a player, already in the offensive zone with the puck, would pass the puck back to a teammate moving at top speed in the neutral zone. To avoid offside, the player who just passed the puck would then have to get back outside the blue line into the neutral zone before his teammate entered the offensive zone with the puck. The “passer” quickly re-entered the offensive zone as a “grade-A” passing option for the new puck carrier.
7. Review the overall team philosophy about what it means to be on the power play. Coach Quenneville often mentions that it is important for a power play to at least “establish game momentum” (if no goal is scored). Do Blackhawk power play players consistently outwork the penalty killers? Win board battles? Win puck races? Make smart puck management decisions? Raise their game to an even higher level of intensity and focus? To some degree, power play time should be a constant competition that power play players earn.

The post 7 Ways to Jump-Start the Blackhawks Power Play appeared first on The Rink.

Beyond the mechanics of how the player is shooting the puck, I evaluate the shot selection type the player chooses, for the game situation he is in.

In the heat of an on-ice battle, players may work very hard and very smart to create goal scoring opportunities for themselves. They may also have strong shooting mechanics. Good for them.

But, if they make the wrong shot selection type, for the situation they are in, the likelihood of a goal is greatly diminished. Not so good for them.

And, if they continually prioritize super-fast release and super-hard shot every time they shoot, instead of where they are shooting the puck, not so good for them. These players need to expand their shooting arsenal.

There is a particular shot type that Auston Matthews worked all summer on to help increase his goal scoring probabilities. The shot is called the, “Two-Touch” shot. The “Two-Touch” is a cousin of the “One-Timer” but differs slightly:

• The shooter stops the pass he just received for a split-second before shooting (first touch).
• The shooter then quickly snaps his shot off (second touch, “Two-Touch”).
• Watch this clip of 656 goal-scorer, Brendan Shanahan, the master of the “Two-Touch”:
  
• Ignore the brief Maple Leaf shoot out attempt at the beginning
• Disregard that the clip is from a recent alumni game, everything is textbook “Two-Touch”
• Listen for the sound of the “Two-Touch” – the two touches are very audible in the first replay
• The last replay of Shanny’s shot gives you the full view of how the “Two-Touch” shot is done

The “Two-Touch” can be used as a “safer” One-Time shot. It allows the shooter to place the puck where he wants it before shooting. He can “flatten” the puck if it is rolling or bouncing to him. A great shot choice when ice conditions are poor. And, when mastered, the “Two-Touch” gives the shooter more accuracy of where he wants to shoot, with only a split second delay, vs the One-Timer.

Auston Matthews uses the “Two-Touch” with great success when receiving passes, while facing the net in the slot, from teammates behind the net. He also uses the “Two-Touch” to score many goals from in- close on the back door side. Matthews can shoot the “Two-Touch” almost as quickly as the One-Timer and knows it is a tremendously effective shot from in-close. (He’s usually much closer to the net than the Shanny clip.)

Many Blackhawk shooters, instead of using the “Two-Touch” from the same Matthews goal-scoring areas, rush their shots by opting for some version of the One-Timer. The result is often poor puck contact, a save by the goalie, or the shot missing the net altogether.

I give full marks to Richard Panik for the number of goal scoring opportunities he creates in-close. But he tries to One-Time too many pucks in the “Matthews areas.” Using the “Two-Touch” shot more often would produce more goals for him.

I also give full marks to Nick Schmaltz for the goal scoring opportunities he, too, creates. Schmaltz would also benefit greatly by adding the “Two-Touch” to his shot arsenal. He uses a very long stick which can make it more difficult to consistently rip One-Timers. With his buttery soft hands, the “Two Touch” would allow Schmaltz to “tee-up” a snapshot instead of rolling the dice on a true One-Timer. Would also like to see Schmaltz “open his body up” more often when he is a shot option. Nick could also pull the puck in closer to his body during his shot release for a more powerful shot.

These are Two Hawks that need the “Two Touch.” But, most Hawk forwards should be using it much, much more.

Next time you watch a game and a Hawk shanks a One-Timer from in-close, or shoots it right into the goalie, or misses the net, don’t let your mind tell you, “That was a tough shot to execute.” Rather, let your mind tell you, “That was probably a goal if he would have ‘Two-Touched’ it.”

The post Two Blackhawks That Need to Learn the Two-Touch Shot appeared first on The Rink.

An old warrior whose life was etched in deep crevices across his face. Bumping into him during a puck battle was like bumping into a brick wall. Well into his 60s, he held his own against players in their 20s. A combination of strength on his skates and game smarts only a pro could have. Who was this guy?

Hearing I was from Chicago, he asked, “You playing Thursday? I show you something.” The accent was thick. Discovering I was part Czech, he roared like a lion in laughter.

“Yep, I’ll be here,” I said.

Fast forward to Thursday. The game was over. He waited until the locker room had cleared out. “You like Blackhawks?”

“I love the Blackhawks. Have been a Hawk fan since the Original Six days,” I replied.

“You remember Original Six?” he asked.

“Like it was yesterday. It’s why I love hockey. Nothing more exciting than a Bobby Hull end-to-end rush at old Chicago Stadium to get you out of your seat.”

He slowly reached into his coat pocket and unfurled a very old newspaper clipping.  It was a photo of a hockey player. A hockey player in full uniform wearing the red Blackhawks jersey. Chief Blackhawk’s profile was a definite tell that the time was the early 1960s. It was him.

“I play something like six games for Blackhawks during Original Six. I lied about my age.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“You got time for quick story?”

“Sure. Would love to hear it.”

“When I was young man in Czechoslovakia, Soviet Union still control everything in my country. Very little freedom for the people. But I became very good hockey player. Czech hockey people tell me to go get visa so that I travel to Canada and play hockey in NHL. I go to visa office and big, fat Russian guy won’t approve my visa. I have no family in Canada. My family very poor. I try next month. Same fat Russian. No again. I try again. No. I try for many years. Same fat Russian guy in visa office. No.”

“Too many years pass. I stuck in Czechoslovakia. I’m not kid. My NHL dream dying. Friends say ‘keep trying.’ Soviets still in charge. I go to visa office. Big, fat Russian not there. Old lady who works in office know me from hundreds of visits. ‘Igor sick today.’”

“I get in visa line. Different guy behind desk. Now my turn. I tell new guy I want to go to Canada. Play hockey. NHL.  He looks at me. ‘Hockey. NHL. I love hockey. I love NHL.’”

“Bang! He stamps my visa. I will never forget sound. ‘Good luck’ he says. ‘I know you will make NHL.’”

“’Thank you. Thank you,’” I say.

“When I turn corner in building, where no one see me, I start to run. I would have run all way to Canada. I hold my visa tighter than anything I ever hold.”

“When I home, I cry and cry. Both happy and sad cry.”

“But I did play NHL. For Blackhawks. I love Blackhawks. They knew I much older than I say.”

I slung my equipment bag over my shoulder. Stunned. Completely stunned.

“Next time, I want the long version. Want to hear more. Much more,” I said.

“OK, we talk. You Czech. You love Blackhawks. You understand.”

As the locker room door flung open, the roar of his lion laugh filled the empty rink.

But there would be no more next times. No long versions of his incredible story. He died before we could talk again.

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