Murray: Blackhawks know what's at stake in Game 6
ANAHEIM, Calif. — With the Blackhawks now trailing the Anaheim Ducks in the series 3-2, Troy Murray answers some key questions ahead of Game 6 in the Western Conference finals.
Q: When a team scores 3 goals in 37 seconds like Anaheim did in a Game 4 loss, or when a team scores twice in the last two minutes like the Hawks did in a Game 5 loss, do those good feelings carry over to the next game?
A: I don't know if they do. … It's just game by game and you forget it. In the playoffs, whether you win or lose, it's one game one way or the other. How you lose really doesn't affect a strong team like the Ducks or the Blackhawks. Maybe a team that's fragile or has less experience (would be affected), but when you get to the final four, you obviously have some good experience in your lineup and in your core group of players that can handle those kind of situations.
The Blackhawks aren't going to be happy with the way they lost that game (Monday). But they understand all they have to do is go back and win one game. Certainly the pressure is on them to win because it's an elimination game, but you go back and take care of business at the United Center and force a Game 7. Anything can happen in a Game 7.
Q: A team that's experienced as the Hawks isn't supposed to allow 3 goals in a period as often as they have (seven times in 15 playoff games). Is there any explanation for that?
A: (Monday's Game 5) was probably the most disappointing start that the Blackhawks have had in this postseason. Is there a rhyme or reason; if you're a coach can you put a finger on what the issue is? You prepare the same way. You feel there's a sense of readiness among your group of guys. And sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't. I don't know where you can even begin to explain (why) those type of situations (occur). But they happen and they deal with them.
Give credit that they didn't buckle under and say, ‘OK, we're going to lose this game. We'll concentrate on the next one.' The resolve of great teams is always to forget one period, forget one game and come back with a better effort. They got a big goal from Teuvo Teravainen to start out the second period to give them life.
Q: Do you think anything extra will be said in the locker room before a huge Game 6?
A: I think, as a former player, more will be said on the Ducks' side of it. To say: ‘Let's be ready, let's make sure we close them out here, we don't want to have a Game 7.'
I don't think much has to be said for a group of guys like the Blackhawks. They know where they stand; if they lose the game, they're on vacation, they're going golfing. There's no rah-rah speeches at this time. You trust in your experience, again in that core group to prepare yourself the right way.
I don't know what more you can say as a coach. As a player, I've been in those situations and you (as the coach) point out the obvious, which is: Hey, here it is. It's all on the line. It's up to you guys, here's our game plan, which doesn't really change from game to game in a long series like this. But you just trust that the leadership core group inside the locker room to make sure that the experience gets them ready because everybody knows what's at stake.
Nothing really has to be said.
• Murray is in his 15th year as a member of the Blackhawks broadcast team and his eighth as the color analyst for the team's radio broadcasts. The Selke Award winner was a five-time 20-goal scorer who played 15 years in the NHL. Follow him on Twitter@muzz19.