The Chicago Blackhawks are struggling to sustain momentum throughout 60 minutes of play, and most of their problems lie in the second period. While they're performing well in the first periods and third periods, outscoring opponents by plus-seven and plus-14 respectively, the middle 20 minutes have been a major letdown. The team's goal differential in the second period is minus-seven, tied for fourth-worst in the NHL.
According to analytics, Blackhawks' scoring-chance ratios in the second period are significantly lower than their first-period counterparts. This suggests that something fundamental may be missing from their second-period performances, and it's not just a matter of sustaining momentum after a strong start. In fact, one theory is that players might be taking their foot off the gas during intermissions, feeling too confident and riding the wave of success instead of pushing for more.
Another potential culprit could be the team's inexperience with long line changes. Coach Jeff Blashill suspects that the Hawks' specific weaknesses may make them more susceptible to this challenge. When teams are not playing well, they tend to struggle breaking out of their own zone and spending enough time in the opponent's zone. This becomes particularly tough in the second period when both benches are on their offense-side of the red line, making it harder for the Hawks to execute smooth line changes.
To combat this issue, Blashill is working with his team to develop strategies that maintain forechecking pressure while executing line changes efficiently. By practicing these drills during practice sessions, he hopes to break the "never-ending cycle" of wasting energy on defensive shifts and dumping the puck in to change. More possession time, which leads to easier line changes, may be the key to fixing this problem.
The Blackhawks' struggles in the second period are not just a matter of fatigue; they're also rooted in fundamental issues that need to be addressed. As captain Nick Foligno noted, it's "unacceptable" for players to not be ready for the challenges of the second period, and the team needs to find ways to stay focused and drive the play forward even when things are going well.
According to analytics, Blackhawks' scoring-chance ratios in the second period are significantly lower than their first-period counterparts. This suggests that something fundamental may be missing from their second-period performances, and it's not just a matter of sustaining momentum after a strong start. In fact, one theory is that players might be taking their foot off the gas during intermissions, feeling too confident and riding the wave of success instead of pushing for more.
Another potential culprit could be the team's inexperience with long line changes. Coach Jeff Blashill suspects that the Hawks' specific weaknesses may make them more susceptible to this challenge. When teams are not playing well, they tend to struggle breaking out of their own zone and spending enough time in the opponent's zone. This becomes particularly tough in the second period when both benches are on their offense-side of the red line, making it harder for the Hawks to execute smooth line changes.
To combat this issue, Blashill is working with his team to develop strategies that maintain forechecking pressure while executing line changes efficiently. By practicing these drills during practice sessions, he hopes to break the "never-ending cycle" of wasting energy on defensive shifts and dumping the puck in to change. More possession time, which leads to easier line changes, may be the key to fixing this problem.
The Blackhawks' struggles in the second period are not just a matter of fatigue; they're also rooted in fundamental issues that need to be addressed. As captain Nick Foligno noted, it's "unacceptable" for players to not be ready for the challenges of the second period, and the team needs to find ways to stay focused and drive the play forward even when things are going well.
... I mean, I get it, teams don't want to waste energy on defensive shifts, but what's wrong with playing a bit more conservatively in the second period? We've seen plenty of games where teams just shut down and hold off for a few minutes, it's not like they're going to get blown out if they do that 
. It's also kinda hard to maintain forechecking pressure when you're already tired from the first period... maybe they should just take a breather instead of trying to fix something that's not even broken 
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... can't keep momentum goin throughout whole game. 2nd period is like totally broken 
. Coach says they need to stop takin' foot off gas after good start & just keep pushin'. Also, line changes are killin' 'em 
... take too long, lose possession time. Need to work on strategies to stay focused & drive play forward, or they'll be stuck in 2nd period rut forever 
. It's not just about making some tweaks during practice, it's about instilling a culture of accountability and competitiveness within the team. If they can't take care of business themselves, then maybe they shouldn't be playing for each other 
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. The players need to want it more than the coaching staff does, you know? It's like, if they're not gonna take care of themselves on the ice, why should we expect them to succeed off it? 
Coach Blashill's onto it with line change drills and all, but I think they need to work on their mental toughness too. Can't just rely on "forechecking pressure" all the time... gotta stay focused on the 2nd period. 
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... Players need to stay focused and drive play forward even when things are going well, cant just take a break mid game 
. While it's understandable that players might feel confident after a strong start, relying too heavily on momentum can lead to stagnation 
. Blashill's efforts to develop strategies for maintaining forechecking pressure while executing line changes efficiently are a step in the right direction 
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. This might involve emphasizing the importance of staying focused and driving play forward even when things are going well 
. As Foligno aptly put it, it's "unacceptable" for players not to be ready for the challenges of the second period 
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. By working on these issues during practice sessions, Blashill's team can break the "never-ending cycle" of wasting energy on defensive shifts 
i think its soooo obvious whats goin on with the Hawks 2nd period 
they're just gettin too comfy and takin it easy lolol like why would u wanna stop makin goals? 
coach blashill is genius for seein this and adressin it tho 
. I think Coach Blashill's got the right idea with these drills to practice smooth line changes, but at the same time, maybe they should just chill out and not take their foot off the gas pedal 
. It's like, if you've got momentum going for you, don't let it slip away! But on the other hand, fatigue is definitely a factor, so I'm all for taking breaks and staying refreshed 
. Ugh, my brain hurts just thinking about this 
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. It's all about maintaining that forechecking pressure while still executing smooth changes. I'm not saying it's impossible, but they do seem to be struggling with it. Maybe if they can find a way to break the cycle of wasting energy on defensive shifts, they'll be golden 
. Coach Blashill says it's not just fatigue, they need to work on line changes 
! Captain Foligno is right though, players gotta stay focused and drive play forward even when things are going well 
!