Hawks done in by self-inflicted wounds

On the second day, the Blackhawks defense rested.

Actually the whole team did, foregoing practice Sunday afternoon in lieu of meetings and some video work.

That's what a 5-1 shellacking at the hands of Vancouver in the opener of the Western Conference semifinals Saturday night at the United Center will do to a team.

After the loss, Hawks coach Joel Quenneville didn't mince words about the defensive play of his team.

"We had the puck and then we gave it away sometimes without pressure," Quenneville said. "We didn't manage it very well in all zones. I thought all 3 first goals against us were all plays that, technically or mentally, we played very poorly."

A day later, after looking at the tapes, Quenneville's take wasn't any rosier.

"All their goals were self-inflicted wounds; we've got to be better in those areas," he said. "It was what we did that generated their offense."

That would include a couple of misplays that led to a pair of Vancouver goals late in the first period, setting up the romp that would ensue.

"In the first period we made a few mistakes and they put it in the back of the net - that's the kind of team they are," said defenseman Brent Sopel, who had a minus-2 rating and 3 giveaways Saturday. "You make mistakes and they make you pay.

"The first one (scored by Christian Ehrhoff) it went down to the wall and back out to the point and it goes back in, and the second one (Mason Raymond) - my fault - I thought my defense partner was peeling off the corner for me ... it was a frustrating first period.

"A leader can't have that, letting down my team the way I did, but I'll be ready for our next game."

Sopel says the same can be said for the rest of his Hawks teammates, who have now dropped Game 1 in their last four playoff series, including this one.

"It's obviously not a position you want to put yourself in; you'd obviously like to win your first game and roll from there, but you can't change it," he said. "It's over and done with.

"We'll talk about it quickly (on Monday) and then try to tie things up here."