Players can?t put finger on why Predators are knocking them off stride
Forget about the defensive schemes, forget about the goaltending and forget about home-ice advantage. The Predators have been better than the Blackhawks in their Western Conference quarterfinals series because they have worked harder.
The Hawks, who should know better after being the team with the energy and sense of urgency during their deep playoff run last season, have been outhit, outskated and rendered largely spectators while the Predators have played with desperation.
The result for the Hawks is a 2-1 series deficit to a team that has less talent but has shown more desire with Game 4 scheduled for Thursday night at Bridgestone Arena.
Give the Hawks credit, they aren't ducking the issue, even if they can't pinpoint a reason for it.
"It's tough to explain, especially in playoffs," winger Patrick Kane said after Wednesday's practice, a day after the Hawks floated through a 4-1 loss in Game 3. "You never want to come out with an effort like you had last game, where you pretty much got outplayed the whole game. That hasn't happened to us too much throughout the season so it's not something we're used to seeing.
"Game 3 was not acceptable," Kane added. "There's no excuse for it, but there are going to be games like that where nothing seems to click. It shouldn't. That's the word that comes to mind, you should never be out-worked in this league. Especially with the talent we have. You know if we work harder than them you're going to give yourself a good chance to win."
Tuesday night wasn't merely the exception, however, as the Predators have been the aggressor in all three games with the exception of parts of Game 2, when the Hawks took advantage to record their lone victory.
Another lackluster effort in Game 4 would put the Hawks so deep in a hole it would take a monumental run to advance to the conference semifinals.
The question now is how the Hawks can develop the energy needed to right the ship in a hurry.
The answer likely will come in the form of changes in the lineup, including the addition of forward Adam Burish. He has so much energy he should walk around wearing a cape and the letter "E" emblazoned on his chest.
The forward, who has been a healthy scratch the first three games of the series, practiced on a line Wednesday with John Madden and Troy Brouwer. Also, rookie Bryan Bickell appears to be joining a line with Kane and Toews. Another possibility is the return to action of Brian Campbell, who hasn't played since March 14 after suffering a broken rib and collarbone. The defenseman has been participating in full practices and coach Joel Quenneville wouldn't rule him out.
Of all the possible combinations, the insertion of Burish could be the elixir the Hawks need to boost their energy level.
"To win in the playoffs it's not always just about your skill," Burish said. "It's not about making the pretty play. It's about who's going to work harder, who's going to be more competitive, who's going to have that will to win.
"When you look across the ice and see that guy next to you, you have to know that guy is not going to beat me. He's not going to out-will me, he's not going to out-work me. You have to have that attitude if you want to win."
If the rest of the Hawks don't develop that attitude, quickly, there won't be many more opportunities to win anything.
Forget about the defensive schemes, forget about the goaltending and forget about home-ice advantage. The Predators have been better than the Blackhawks in their Western Conference quarterfinals series because they have worked harder.
The Hawks, who should know better after being the team with the energy and sense of urgency during their deep playoff run last season, have been outhit, outskated and rendered largely spectators while the Predators have played with desperation.
The result for the Hawks is a 2-1 series deficit to a team that has less talent but has shown more desire with Game 4 scheduled for Thursday night at Bridgestone Arena.
Give the Hawks credit, they aren't ducking the issue, even if they can't pinpoint a reason for it.
"It's tough to explain, especially in playoffs," winger Patrick Kane said after Wednesday's practice, a day after the Hawks floated through a 4-1 loss in Game 3. "You never want to come out with an effort like you had last game, where you pretty much got outplayed the whole game. That hasn't happened to us too much throughout the season so it's not something we're used to seeing.
"Game 3 was not acceptable," Kane added. "There's no excuse for it, but there are going to be games like that where nothing seems to click. It shouldn't. That's the word that comes to mind, you should never be out-worked in this league. Especially with the talent we have. You know if we work harder than them you're going to give yourself a good chance to win."
Tuesday night wasn't merely the exception, however, as the Predators have been the aggressor in all three games with the exception of parts of Game 2, when the Hawks took advantage to record their lone victory.
Another lackluster effort in Game 4 would put the Hawks so deep in a hole it would take a monumental run to advance to the conference semifinals.
The question now is how the Hawks can develop the energy needed to right the ship in a hurry.
The answer likely will come in the form of changes in the lineup, including the addition of forward Adam Burish. He has so much energy he should walk around wearing a cape and the letter "E" emblazoned on his chest.
The forward, who has been a healthy scratch the first three games of the series, practiced on a line Wednesday with John Madden and Troy Brouwer. Also, rookie Bryan Bickell appears to be joining a line with Kane and Toews. Another possibility is the return to action of Brian Campbell, who hasn't played since March 14 after suffering a broken rib and collarbone. The defenseman has been participating in full practices and coach Joel Quenneville wouldn't rule him out.
Of all the possible combinations, the insertion of Burish could be the elixir the Hawks need to boost their energy level.
"To win in the playoffs it's not always just about your skill," Burish said. "It's not about making the pretty play. It's about who's going to work harder, who's going to be more competitive, who's going to have that will to win.
"When you look across the ice and see that guy next to you, you have to know that guy is not going to beat me. He's not going to out-will me, he's not going to out-work me. You have to have that attitude if you want to win."
If the rest of the Hawks don't develop that attitude, quickly, there won't be many more opportunities to win anything.
