Rozner: Desperation nothing new for Blackhawks

There is nothing in sports that matches the wild emotional swings of an NHL playoff series.

And it's only multiplied in the Stanley Cup Final.

Witness the last few days, which saw the Blackhawks steal Game 1, even though they weren't prepared emotionally for the start against Tampa, which was completely understandable after the Anaheim series.

Fans here started to talk about a sweep and the Tampa faithful wondered how they could win a game against such a foe.

The Hawks again weren't ready for Game 2 and still nearly won the game but came home and played an extraordinary first period of Game 3 and weren't rewarded for their effort. Tampa hung around, scored late to win and flipped the Game 1 script.

The Hawks have been the better team for maybe three of nine periods thus far, and the Bolts have earned their 2-1 series lead.

Now the Hawks know this is it. They must win Game 4 or face the prospect of a comeback from down 3-1, with two of the final three games on the road.

It's easy to forget that the Hawks were in this spot two years ago, down 2-1 and needing to capture Game 4 in Boston after being badly outplayed in two of the first three games, and all they did was win the next three.

The Lightning are feeling pretty good about themselves right now, but if the Hawks win Game 4 Wednesday night at home they will go to Tampa on a high, and the Bolts will know they missed a chance to slay the giant.

Just that suddenly, Tampa will know it must win Game 5 or face elimination in Chicago in Game 6.

Yeah, just that fast. Shake your head, catch your breath and know that you're watching something special when you're seeing NHL hockey in June.

There's no panic right now on the Hawks' side of things because they have trailed so many times in games and series the last six years that there's nothing about this they haven't experienced before.

They have complete belief in their ability to overcome any challenge and that's obviously quite helpful, but it's time for Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane to have an impact.

The Hawks' two superstars have precisely 1 point - Toews' Game 2 assist - in three games, while the Lightning checking line of Cedric Paquette, Ryan Callahan and J.T. Brown - which has been against the Toews line - has 3 goals and 4 assists, all in the last two games.

Among other concerns, the Hawks have not scored first in the series and have led for only 6:19 of 180 minutes.

Now Johnny Oduya has an injury after a dirty play by Nikita Kucherov, and the Hawks' very thin defense has more problems.

Joel Quenneville said Tuesday that Oduya is likely to play Wednesday, but he was barely mobile in the third period Monday and Kucherov walked around Oduya to set up the game-tying goal 13 seconds after the Hawks took the lead.

If there's good news, it's that Marian Hossa and Brandon Saad are flying, and with last-change advantage Toews ought to have some space to work with Wednesday and figures to have his best game of the series, especially given the circumstances.

Of course, Toews is also seeing a heavy dose of Victor Hedman, who's a plus-3 with 4 assists in three games and has been the best Tampa player, vaulting himself into the Conn Smythe conversation.

That's why Quenneville wants to separate Toews and Kane to maintain some balance and give at least one line good looks every time they're on the ice.

So once again, here we are with the Hawks in a desperate situation, backs against the wall and entirely in need of something good to happen in the next game.

History would suggest the Hawks have the Bolts right where they want them.

brozner@dailyherald.com

• Listen to Barry Rozner from 9 a.m. to noon Sundays on the Score's "Hit and Run" show at WSCR 670-AM.