Chicago Blackhawks: A Good Weekend To Show A Pulse

The Chicago Blackhawks have two days to search for the motivation to rebound from a recent run of inconsistent and uninspired play.

This weekend might be a good place to start.

The Hawks found themselves with a definite lack of urgency for the second home game in a row on the way to a frustrating 5-3 loss to a New Jersey club that was ripe for the picking at the end of their own disappointing road trip.  Instead, the Devils got the two points despite losing Martin Brodeur in the second period.

After being embarrassed by Edmonton Friday night, one would have thought that no team would be overlooked by the Blackhawks.  Wrong.

Chicago spotted their guests a 2-0 before deciding it was time to get to work, tying the contest with some hard play from the bottom six forwards, along with the second power-play unit.  Brian Campbell got things going with a big second period hit, and Jake Dowell threw some hands and centered the third line, who managed the Hawks late third-period goal.

Chicago is limping into the weekend having gone 2-5 in their last seven games.  Awaiting them is a trip to Atlanta and a reunion with former teammates Andrew Ladd, Dustin Byfuglien, Brent Sopel and Ben Eager.  A return home engagement with the Oilers is set for Sunday.

Sounds like two games a team with a pulse would want to gear up for, huh?

On the plus side, Campbell seems to be effectively slipping into the defensive mix as the Blackhawks permitted just 22 shots Wednesday night (excluding two empty netters).  This follows an improved defensive performance in New York, despite a frustrating loss that night as well.

Jack Skille has been coming up with some big hits and is creating a lot of good scoring opportunities.  So far, it hasn't equated to any goals; if he can start finishing plays, look out.  So far, he seems to come up one move short.

Let's face it, Blackhawks fans.  With Marian Hossa and Dave Bolland out until the middle of next week or later, we're in an old-fashioned funk right now.  How do we snap out of it? 

Let's give the following a try:

1.  Keep it simple and get the puck to the net.

Occasionally, we see the Blackhawks try to get a bit too fancy with the puck.  Nobody seems to want to pull the trigger on a shot, and that extra pass usually leads to a turnover.  Wednesday night picked up when Chicago started putting shots on goal.

Skille had five shots, Patrick Kane, just one.  Stalberg sent four shots to the net.  Brouwer sent one. 

2.  End the Hendry/Pisani/Scott experiment.  Now.  Please.

Pisani played well Wednesday, tying the game with his first goal of the season.  Hendry and Scott combined for less than seven minutes, with nary a goal between them.  There was a scrap in the first period.  Scott wasn't in it.

There are eight guys in Rockford right now whom I'd rather see at forward than Hendry and Scott.  I hope two of them accompany the Blackhawks to Atlanta.

I'm not saying that Jersey's second goal is prevented if Ryan Potulny and Rob Klinkhammer are on the ice with Pisani, but I'd take my chances.

3.  Keep on keepin' on defensively.

With Campbell back, the shots are going down and Niklas Hjalmarsson seems to be more defensive-minded.  Keith logged almost 30 minutes Wednesday, but the third line defense's time on ice has been reduced.  Chicago still needs to sweep the area around the net more effectively, but the outlook is brighter than it was a week ago.

Campbell has played 20 minutes in each of his first two games with no ill effects.  So far, so good.

4.  These may not have been big games in September, but they are now.

I guess this is half-true. None of our guys wants to go down to Atlanta and drop one to the ex-Hawks.  If there's a game to circle on the calender, it's this one.

Sunday's rematch with Edmonton should definitely be a statement game. Time to reclaim the madhouse.

At this point in the season, this is a Blackhawks team that is still finding its way.  How they handle this weekend's matchups is the first step towards getting on the winning path.