Ten games into the season and the Blackhawks are already seven points out of the playoffs. The Florida Panthers (5-4-2) are probably the last team the Hawks want to see on their schedule right now.
Let’s face it, the Hawks have been playing soft so far this season, and the Panthers probably expect to come in to the UC and push them around as they please. It seems as though Connor Bedard is the only Hawk that is willing to not only stand up for himself, but his teammates as well. I get he is the captain, but it absolutely cannot be him jumping in every time.
Coming off a five day break then a embarrassing 4-1 loss to the Canadiens, the Blackhawks need a get right game. You’d think that game would have happened after a five day break, but here we are.
Blackhawks projected lines
Kantserov – Bedard – Kane
Bertuzzi – Frondell – Greenway
Teravainen – Nazar – Donato
Smith – Greene – Mangiapane
Vlasic – Cole
Kaiser – Levshunov
Korchinski – RInzel
Knight/Soderblom (Starter unkown)
Plenty of changes were made to the lines at Friday’s practice. Most notably, Jordan Greenway is going to get a look in the top six.
Greenway is one third of the well-oiled fourth line, but has played so well in that role that Jeff Blashill has rewarded him. This change isn’t just to reward Greenway. This is meant to address to issue I mentioned earlier, the Hawks are soft.
Greenway’s job tonight is to protect the young stars in the top six.
Andrew Mangiapane is back from injury and is ready for game action again. I really like what Mangiapane brings to the lineup, especially for a game against the Panthers.
What didn’t sit right with me was that Oliver Moore needed to be the one sitting in order for Mangiapane to play. Moore is one of the few Hawks’ who’s effort is never in question. He works his butt off and isn’t afraid to mix it up in defense of his teammates.
However, if you’re gonna take him out for any game, this one makes sense. A heavy, hard-hitting team like the Panthers aren’t Moore’s ideal matchup. Mangiapane can better hold his own.
Korchinski finally gets a shot
It took the Hawks falling to 3-7-0 for Kevin Korchinski to get a look back in the lineup, but he is expected to play tonight.
The 22-year-old has appeared in only one game so far. He was a -2 in the 4-3 loss to Buffalo earlier this season. Since then, he has been a healthy scratch. He will be playing with Sam Rinzel, a very similar player. This pair’s noticeable flaw is their ability to defend the front of the net – I will be watching closely at how they hold up against a team that likes to get in the blue paint.
What I’m watching for
- Response to physicality: As I already mentioned, the Hawks haven’t been a tough team physically to play against this season, but they don’t have much of a choice tonight. The Panthers will push them around every chance they get. How will the Hawks respond?
- Converting on opportunities: My theme so far for the Hawks has been “self-inflicted wounds” and part of that is because they can never take advantage of what’s given. Take the Montreal game for example, 0/5 on the powerplay. Even the best teams in the league aren’t going to win hockey games going 0/5 on the man advantage.
Panthers projected lines
B. Tkachuk – Bennett – M. Tkachuk
Verhaeghe – Reinhart – Vilmanis
Loustarinen – Lundell – Eller
Imama – Schwindt – Hathaway
Forsling – Ekblad
Mikkola – Jones
Kulikov – Gudas