Predators trapping defense likely to force Hawks to dump and chase
The trap was set and the Blackhawks fell into it.
That's why they are in a hole heading into Game 2 of the Western Conference quarterfinals Sunday night at the United Center.
The Hawks' high-powered offense ran into a black hole that was the Predators' defensive scheme in a 4-1 loss Friday night. The Predators played what Hawks winger Patrick Kane described as a 2-3 trap and didn't allow the home team enough quality chances to flex its scoring muscle.
If the Hawks can't climb out Sunday night, they could be facing an unexpected early exit from the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"You're circling around looking for an open area and they have five guys back," said Kane, who scored the Hawks' goal in the second period. "So the best thing is probably to get in their zone by dumping it in or trying to gain the line and kick it out wide. Pucks on the net, traffic, rebounds?that's probably the way we're going to have to score on this team."
The Predators often have all five skaters deep in their own zone to clog passing lanes and keep opponents from getting to the middle of the ice.
"They get you when you're trying to make plays to the middle," Hawks winger Andrew Ladd said. "They all come back really hard and you try to go east and west and they end up taking it the other way. We have to play a north-south game and get to the net."
The Predators apparently are content to grind it out with the Hawks this series and avoid any offensive track meets. Usually teams are loathe to describe defensive styles as a trap (Predators coach Barry Trotz didn't refer to it by name during Friday's postgame news conference), but ex-Hawk Steve Sullivan didn't hesitate.
"It's a trap system," Sullivan said. "We try to create shorter gaps (and) try to take away their speed in the neutral zone. You try to make sure you force them to make good plays. They're a very highly skilled group and we try to take away their time and space. By doing so we try to force them to make quick plays, a little quicker than they want to."
The Hawks will make adjustments to get their offense on the pace that had them third in the league in scoring with 3.20 goals per game during the regular season.
"Overall, we can play better against it," Kane said. "Maybe just being patient is the best thing. Make simple plays and getting in deep and getting on the forecheck or trying to play in their zone as much as you can. They play kind of a weird system in their end that I think can be exploited."
Added center John Madden: "Work harder, that's the first thing you do. We have to throw pucks deep. We don't always have to make the pretty play. We have to get some dirty goals and get dirty around the net."
The Predators expect the Hawks to adjust and also will do some maneuvering of their own as the series continues.
"There are a few things they made adjustments to (Friday) from watching us," Trotz said. "We're going to adjust right back. It becomes a little bit of a chess match when you get into the playoffs."
The trap was set and the Blackhawks fell into it.
That's why they are in a hole heading into Game 2 of the Western Conference quarterfinals Sunday night at the United Center.
The Hawks' high-powered offense ran into a black hole that was the Predators' defensive scheme in a 4-1 loss Friday night. The Predators played what Hawks winger Patrick Kane described as a 2-3 trap and didn't allow the home team enough quality chances to flex its scoring muscle.
If the Hawks can't climb out Sunday night, they could be facing an unexpected early exit from the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"You're circling around looking for an open area and they have five guys back," said Kane, who scored the Hawks' goal in the second period. "So the best thing is probably to get in their zone by dumping it in or trying to gain the line and kick it out wide. Pucks on the net, traffic, rebounds?that's probably the way we're going to have to score on this team."
The Predators often have all five skaters deep in their own zone to clog passing lanes and keep opponents from getting to the middle of the ice.
"They get you when you're trying to make plays to the middle," Hawks winger Andrew Ladd said. "They all come back really hard and you try to go east and west and they end up taking it the other way. We have to play a north-south game and get to the net."
The Predators apparently are content to grind it out with the Hawks this series and avoid any offensive track meets. Usually teams are loathe to describe defensive styles as a trap (Predators coach Barry Trotz didn't refer to it by name during Friday's postgame news conference), but ex-Hawk Steve Sullivan didn't hesitate.
"It's a trap system," Sullivan said. "We try to create shorter gaps (and) try to take away their speed in the neutral zone. You try to make sure you force them to make good plays. They're a very highly skilled group and we try to take away their time and space. By doing so we try to force them to make quick plays, a little quicker than they want to."
The Hawks will make adjustments to get their offense on the pace that had them third in the league in scoring with 3.20 goals per game during the regular season.
"Overall, we can play better against it," Kane said. "Maybe just being patient is the best thing. Make simple plays and getting in deep and getting on the forecheck or trying to play in their zone as much as you can. They play kind of a weird system in their end that I think can be exploited."
Added center John Madden: "Work harder, that's the first thing you do. We have to throw pucks deep. We don't always have to make the pretty play. We have to get some dirty goals and get dirty around the net."
The Predators expect the Hawks to adjust and also will do some maneuvering of their own as the series continues.
"There are a few things they made adjustments to (Friday) from watching us," Trotz said. "We're going to adjust right back. It becomes a little bit of a chess match when you get into the playoffs."
