Well, at least Michael Frolik didn't lie about stepping up? (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Four straight playoff games and four straight overtimes. But that’s not where the similarities end, the last two games have ended in the exact same way, Mikkel Boedker walking in on Corey Crawford to win it 3-2 in overtime. The Blackhawks now trail the series 3-1.

It seems to be the theme of the series for the Blackhawks, tie the game late and then fall in overtime. However, some of those games you could say that the Blackhawks didn’t deserve to even make it that far. Tonight, the Coyotes forecheck put heavy pressure the Blackhawks all night, a big reason they were able to take a 2-0 lead. A lead that looked like it would hold up with the consistently pressing forecheck.

The Blackhawks did manage a rally on a goal from Brendan Morrison and a goal with just over a minute to go by Michael Frolik to tie the game. A turnover and a seemingly stoppable puck though managed to again get by Crawford off the stick of Boedker to put the Blackhawks in a 3-1 deficit in the series.

Now the Blackhawks face elimination in Game 5 in Phoenix after dropping both playoff games at home… in overtime.

It would be easy to blame the faltering of the defense of Nick Leddy and Sean O’Donnell or Corey Crawford for letting in the last goal for the loss, but the blame doesn’t solely lie on their shoulders.

For a majority of the third period the Coyotes simply played like they wanted it more, every time the Blackhawks were back in their defensive zone there was a Coyote there hounding them and the Blackhawks didn’t match their effort.

It seems a bit symbolic the Blackhawks rallying to tie the game only to lose in overtime, a majority of the season the Blackhawks appeared on paper a better team than they way they played on the ice, this series is proving no different.

Do the Blackhawks have the ability to string together three straight wins to take the series? They do. There is enough talent and experience in the Blackhawks locker room to do it.

If they don’t find that urgency and hunger in their game now, they’ll be hitting the links early once again.

It’s going to take every single Blackhawk playing better to get out of this massive hole they’ve dug for themselves.

Photo Credit: Kim Wrona

The end of week 28 brought the end of the 2011-12 season for the IceHogs. The two games on tap were two Midwest Division games against Milwaukee and Charlotte. The Ads and Checkers weren’t going to go down easy as they continued to battle for their playoff lives. But the Hogs weren’t about to give up as this team has no quit and wanted to give the BMO Harris Bank Center faithful something to cheer about for the last time until October.

» Continue reading “IceHogs Thursday: End Of The Season Brings 3 Of 4 Points”

It was only a matter time until he returned... (Photo: Mel/flickr)

The circus that has become the Blackhawks and Phoenix Coyotes series features an actual hockey game tonight at 7pm CST.

The latest act of the show has been the $10,000 fine to Blackhawks Head Coach Joel Quenneville “for public comments critical of the officiating.” (Chicago Tribune) In response to the fine, I can only imagine a response similar to “2 minutes well worth it” a la D2: the Mighty Ducks.

Out tonight for the Blackhawks is Marian Hossa after absorbing a Raffi Torres hit. While Hossa is a big loss for the Blackhawks, it provides an opportunity for recent call-up Brandon Saad to enter the series. Quenneville hinted at the possibility of Saad getting time with the top lines. (CSN Chicago)

The Coyotes will again be without Martin Hanzal and Lauri Korpikoski both remain out with injuries. (Chicago Tribune)

Also out for the Coyotes will be Raffi Torres, who has been suspended indefinitely for his hit on Marian Hossa. Torres’ most recent hit is just another to add to the list of dangerous hits he has doled out. Though Torres seems to display no remorse for his consistently damaging actions. (Chicago Sun-Times)

The Coyotes brass has come to the defense of Torres, because according to Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney, it wasn’t like he killed a busload of kids or anything. (Chicago Sun-Times) I guess that one way to think of it? Needless to say I’m disappointed to see how the Coyotes have responded to the hit.

Tonight’s bottom line though is that it doesn’t do anyone any good for another player to get hurt. The Blackhawks responded correctly by not taking liberties on the Coyotes following the hit on Hossa and hopefully this remains the Blackhawks mentality going into Game 4.

The only revenge from the Blackhawks should be seen on the scoreboard, to even the series once again.