NEWSLETTER
This afternoon, the Chicago Blackhawks end their six-game road trip, as they gear up to take on the Tampa Bay Lightning at 3:00 pm CT at Amalie Arena in Tampa. Chicago is 1-4-0 in their previous five games on the road trip, and are 2-5-1 in the month of March. So, yeah, getting any points today would be a blessing, especially considering the fact that when they return home, they will be greeted with a two-game set against the Florida Panthers. Ain’t no rest for the wicked.
But, hey, the Blackhawks have been successful in the second of their two-game mini-series this season (10-2-2), so no worries, right?
•  Having lost three-straight games (and five of their last six) in regulation, the Blackhawks are in a the middle of a season-worst rut. Even the opening of the season was just a four-game slump before getting relief against the Red Wings. This time, there’s no relief coming.
Carpenter: "When adversity happens, sometimes it feels like games are harder to win… But adversity is good for a team and hopefully we get out of it sooner than later."
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) March 19, 2021
•  There’s adversity, and then there’s playing the top two teams in the NHL nine times in an 11-game stretch. That’s not an excuse for the Blackhawks, who are trying to convince us that they are a playoff team, but if they are going to keep their current spot in fourth-place in the Central Division, they have to get out of these adversities much sooner than later.
•  Usually, that means looking to the veterans. While Alex DeBrincat has just two points in his last six games, the rest of the Blackhawks vets are doing their best to lead the way. Patrick Kane has four points in his last five games after being held off the score-sheet on Thursday night. He has not gone more than one game in-between recording a point this season. Dylan Strome returned to the Blackhawks lineup on Thursday and scored in his first game back, and both Duncan Keith and Dominik KubalÃk have four-game point streaks each heading into Saturday afternoon’s game. So they are trying, it’s just difficult against arguably the best two teams in the NHL in the Lightning and Panthers.
Colliton after Blackhawks practice today:
"We expect to be in the race. We expect to be playing in huge games here, right down to the wire. And we expect to get ourselves in a playoff series."
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) March 19, 2021
•  They’ll need help in net if they are going to benefit from the production up front. Kevin Lankinen has started six of the last eight games in March for the Blackhawks with a 1-4-1 record and a .887 save percentage over that stretch. Malcolm Subban has two starts this month, going 1-1-0 while allowing nine goals over the two games. Lankinen and Subban had been one of the more surprising and reliable tandems in the NHL heading into this month, but the difficult schedule has forced them to come back down to Earth. It’s likely that Subban gets the start on Saturday afternoon, trying to close out the road trip on a positive note.
•  Speaking of Subban, ESPN’s Emily Kaplan did a great interview with the Blackhawks goaltender this week. Talking about growing up the younger brother of P.K. Subban, the transition to playing with Chicago, and the culture of the Blackhawks. His answer on the culture shines more light on the idea of the “buy-in” we’ve heard about this season from head coach Jeremy Colliton and a number of the younger players.
The work we’ve put in, the way we’ve come together since the start of the season, I don’t think it’s a surprise of where we are right now. First of all, you start with Kaner [Patrick Kane] and Duncs [Duncan Keith]. They’ve won before, they know what it takes, and it’s infectious the way they carry themselves — the work they put in, the dedication they have.
It’s an unbelievable core of young guys, we’re all really close. But I feel like the veterans have done a really good job of embracing the younger guys, making them feel part of the team right away, which gives them confidence. It shows on the ice, the young guys are playing with a lot of confidence right now. – Malcolm Subban to ESPN’s Emily Kaplan
•  Check out the full interview right here – I highly recommended it, if you want to get to know the Blackhawks netminder.
•  In case you missed the news yesterday, the USHL’s Chicago Steel (who play in Hoffman Estates) will be able to have fans in the stands by the end of this month. This followed Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s announcement on Thursday that indoor spectator events could operate at a 25% capacity. For the Steel, that means about 600-650 fans will be able to see games live at the Fox Valley Ice Arena.
STEEL FANS TO RETURN; 25% CAPACITY ANNOUNCED
Fans return to Fox Valley Ice Arena starting on Friday, March 26 for game against Green Bay
READ: https://t.co/3ByNHBQwzc pic.twitter.com/cVb4CqdDP1
— Chicago Steel (@ChicagoSteel) March 19, 2021
•  If you feel comfortable with going to games again at this point, highly recommend checking out the Steel. They are one if, if not the most dominant Junior Hockey programs in America.
•  A Happy Blackhawks birthday to Nick Leddy and Bobby Orr today!
A double Happy #Blackhawks Birthday today! Former 2013 Stanley Cup Champion Nick Leddy turns 30 and legendary defenseman Bobby Orr turns 73. pic.twitter.com/oDdZZPFKJG
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) March 20, 2021
•  Finally, after you watch the Blackhawks and Lightning this afternoon, continue your hockey fix with the NCAA Women’s National Championship tonight! The No. 1 ranked Northeastern Huskies look to win their first ever National Championship against historical powerhouse and No. 2 ranked Wisconsin Badgers.
https://twitter.com/NCAAIceHockey/status/1372741398135455745?s=20
•  The game can be found on ESPNU starting at 6:30 p.m. CT. Here is a full preview of tonight’s Championship game thanks to our friends at The Ice Garden!
•  Have yourselves a great Saturday!
