• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks Chances Against Detroit Seem Low

By Kate Cimini November 14th, 2014

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Over the past two seasons when the Blackhawks have faced down their last three opponents: Tampa Bay, San José, and Washington, their successes or failures of the previous season were right in line with how they performed against them this season. While this might astonish some, what it tells us is that there has been little change in the level of play within these clubs (with the exception of Washington, which has undergone one of the biggest changes in the league thanks to a certain Mr. Barry Trotz).

Taking the numbers from last season’s games into account, Chicago’s numbers against Washington showed last Friday’s game could have gone either way — out of two games against the Caps last season Chicago, won one and lost the other — it’s not a surprise that they lost their match on the seventh. The shock comes once you realize that the two clubs held each other to two and three points, respectively.

In the past, both Chicago’s and Washington’s numbers have been higher by anywhere from two to four points. This probably says more about Washington’s renewed focus on team play rather than scoring, but it also speaks to the physical fitness of the Blackhawks. Last season’s Blackhawks came out hard, and were gassed by the end of the second period. The third period was often painful to watch.

Mikhail Grabovski

Mikhail Grabovski (Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports)

Now, however, Chicago comes out hard and shows some real stamina. By the end of the third while one can’t say they look as fresh as daisies, they clearly have more left in them than their opponents do.

San José was next on the schedule, and this game throws us for a little loop here: the Blackhawks faced them down three times and only won once — the other two ended in shootouts which San José won. However, considering that Chicago came back in top shape after Quenneville put his players on strict workout regimes over the summer, it makes sense that this sustained pressure leveled the Sharks, leading to a 5-2 win for the Hawks.

Finally, Tuesday night the Hawks played and won against Tampa Bay. Like last season, where they played two games against Tampa Bay and won both of them in overtime, this game was also won in overtime. Even with the Lightning’s power forward in Stamkos and power end in Bishop, the Blackhawks were desperate to win two games in a row and prove to themselves and their fans that they had the stamina to last more than one game.blackhawks logo 1926 - 1935

After looking at the evidence from last season and determining that it generally holds up, we can use it as a predictor for tonight’s match against Detroit.

During the 2013-2014 season, the Blackhawks and Redwings faced each other twice in the regular season. The Blackhawks took home the W once time, and the Redwings the other. While the Redwings won the first match-up on home ice, it went to overtime and ended in a shootout. The Blackhawks celebrated a more decisive victory some months later, in a match that ended in Chicago winning by three points.

Despite the evidence that tonight’s game could go either way, even after adding in the Blackhawks’ increased physical fitness and the scrutiny the Red Wings suffered over the summer (as well as Mike Babcock’s still yet-to-be-negotiated contract), after weighing the evidence against the Hawks’ current record it seems likely the Red Wings will walk away with the win tonight.

The Hawks have had difficulty pulling out multiple wins in a row this season and Tuesday’s game against Tampa Bay was a big win for them in that sense. Coming in to a game with a more complacent mentality can affect the outcome more than anything else. In addition, Detroit will have the home-ice advantage, and a hunger to prove themselves after Tampa Bay shook them down for spare change. They’re on the hunt for blood (and maybe some goals). I’d be thrilled to see Chicago pull this one out over Detroit, but the likelihood seems low.

 

 

 

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 23rd 4:05 PM
All-Star Weekend

25 Years Later: The FoxTrax Glowing Puck Makes Its Debut

Jan 23rd 3:50 PM
Boston Bruins

Bruins Should Play Grzelcyk With McAvoy

Jan 23rd 3:23 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs Are Being Too Patient With the Puck

Jan 23rd 2:20 PM
Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins’ Pierre-Oliver Joseph Shines in NHL Debut

Jan 23rd 2:10 PM
Anaheim Ducks

Ducks Prospects: Lacombe, McLaughlin, Sundsvik & More

Jan 23rd 2:00 PM
Colorado Avalanche

Prospects News & Rumors: Clarke, Byram & Cozens

Jan 23rd 2:00 PM
New York Islanders

Islanders’ Kieffer Bellows Adapting to New Role

Jan 23rd 1:50 PM
Calgary Flames

Flames’ Monahan Vying to Be Best Center in North Division

Jan 23rd 1:40 PM
Columbus Blue Jackets

NHL Rumors: Oilers, Canucks, & Truth Behind Jets and Blue Jackets Trade

Jan 23rd 1:30 PM
Vancouver Canucks

Green Says Canucks Have Looked ‘a Little Immature at Times’ [Video]

Editor’s Picks
2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information