ESPN.com presents Blackhawks http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/blackhawks 60 en-us Thu, 23 May 2013 03:04:13 webmaster@espn.go.com http://assets.espn.go.com/i/espn/teamlogos/lrg/trans/espn_dotcom_black.gif 110 110 CHICAGO -- Chicago Blackhawks rookie forward Brandon Saad is hoping for No. 11 to be his lucky number again. Saad scored his first career NHL goal in his 11th regular season game. Now entering his 11th NHL playoff game, he and the Blackhawks are looking for him to notch his first career playoff goal. Despite Saad's playoff scoring drought, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville has spoken highly of Saad's recent play. Saad struggled in the opening-round series with the Minnesota Wild, but he's rediscovered his form and has been creating chances in faster-paced games against the Detroit Red Wings.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/blackhawks/post/_/id/4674487/saad-still-searching-for-first-playoff-goal Wed, 22 May 2013 16:02:54 EDT 4674487 CHICAGO -- Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford said Wednesday he has to play better against the Detroit Red Wings despite the continued vote of confidence from coach Joel Quenneville. Crawford made 26 saves in a 4-1 loss to the Red Wings in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series on Saturday and 27 saves in Monday's 3-1 loss in Game 3. The Red Wings lead the series 2-1 with Game 4 coming in Detroit on Thursday. Quenneville has been firm in his confidence for Crawford in recent days and hasn't said he deserves any blame for the defeats.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/blackhawks/post/_/id/4674479/hawks-crawford-i-have-to-play-better Wed, 22 May 2013 14:33:39 EDT 4674479 In 2011, knowing they wouldn't be able to keep Ilya Bryzgalov, the Phoenix Coyotes prepared a list of replacements. Mike Smith, then with the Tampa Bay Lightning, was at the top. They loved his size, how he battled and his ability to play the puck. Because of their time together in Dallas, Dave Tippett knew he'd be a great fit. That year, Smith struggled with Tampa during the regular season with an .899 save percentage and 2.90 goals-against average but for the Coyotes, that didn't matter.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/blackhawks/post/_/id/4674477/custance-playoffs-impacting-summer-goalie-market Wed, 22 May 2013 11:00:13 EDT 4674477 CHICAGO -- The Chicago Blackhawks don't need to be reminded the importance of Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday. If the Blackhawks win, they regain home-ice advantage and even the series at 2-2. If they lose, the series leans heavily in the Red Wings' favor. Of the 229 past best-of-seven series, only 20 times, an 8.7 percentage, has a team come back from a 3-1 deficit to win the series. "You throw around terms like must win and all that," Blackhawks forward Patrick Sharp said on Tuesday.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/blackhawks/post/_/id/4674466/game-4-is-huge-for-blackhawks Tue, 21 May 2013 16:46:09 EDT 4674466 CHICAGO -- Scoring has rarely been an issue for the Chicago Blackhawks this season. The Blackhawks ranked second in the league with 149 goals for (3.10 goals per game) and weren't shut out during the regular season. Their offensive ways continued in the first round of the playoffs as they averaged 3.4 goals in five games against the Minnesota Wild. But after opening the Western Conference semifinal series with a four-goal output against the Detroit Red Wings in Game 1, the Blackhawks' production has been slowed to a trickle in the past two games.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/blackhawks/post/_/id/4674464/blackhawks-remain-confident-in-offense Tue, 21 May 2013 15:43:05 EDT 4674464 It's getting close to do-or-die time for the Chicago Blackhawks. Down 2-1 in their playoff series with the Detroit Red Wings, they have to play better collectively and as individuals. Contrary to some beliefs, Jonathan Toews isn't playing all that bad. His only problem is that pucks aren't going in for him, but he's getting his chances and he's still playing productive hockey. There are other players (or coaches) who need to step up far more than the captain.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/blackhawks/post/_/id/4674456/its-time-to-step-it-up-for-some-hawks Tue, 21 May 2013 14:39:47 EDT 4674456 DETROIT -- The Chicago Blackhawks may as well have thrown their hands up into the air after losing 3-1 to the Detroit Red Wings in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinal series on Monday. The Blackhawks came out with a game plan to be more offensively aggressive, create more chances and be smarter with the puck after Game 2’s 4-1 disaster. When the final horn sounded at Joe Louis Arena on Monday, the Blackhawks felt they had accomplished nearly all they had sought out to do.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/blackhawks/post/_/id/4674435/blackhawks-create-chances-fail-to-finish Mon, 20 May 2013 23:46:47 EDT 4674435 DETROIT -- This was the slap in the face, the splash of cold water. Not necessarily one the Chicago Blackhawks needed, but one they knew was coming. During any long playoff run for a Stanley Cup contender, there are moments when a big shove back from the opposition provides a very real reminder that it won’t come easy. After the Detroit Red Wings beat the Blackhawks 3-1 Monday night to take a surprising 2-1 series lead over the favored Blackhawks, that was the message inside the Blackhawks dressing room.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/blackhawks/post/_/id/4674442/blackhawks-facing-their-first-adversity-of-season Mon, 20 May 2013 23:29:27 EDT 4674442 DETROIT -- Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville and his players believe an official made the wrong call of interference of the goaltender, disallowing a goal that would have tied the Detroit Red Wings in the third period of Game 3 in the Western Conference semifinal series Monday. The Red Wings scored less than two minutes after the controversial call on Andrew Shaw and went ahead 3-1. The game ended in that score, and Red Wings took a 2-1 series lead.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/blackhawks/post/_/id/4674427/blackhawks-disagree-with-third-period-call Mon, 20 May 2013 22:50:24 EDT 4674427 Blackhawks forward Viktor Stalberg talks about his team's 3-1 loss to the Red Wings in Game 3.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/blackhawks/post/_/id/4674430/video-stalberg-talks-about-game-3-loss Mon, 20 May 2013 22:39:37 EDT 4674430