Hole gets deeper for Blackhawks
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — One thing is certain about the Blackhawks as they head home down 2-0 in their first-round playoff series with the Canucks.
They might not even force the series back here if their top players don't make their presence known more than they have in the first two games.
It took 2 goals from rookie Ben Smith and another from Viktor Stalberg to even give the Hawks a chance in Friday night's 4-3 loss at Rogers Arena.
Jonathan Toews didn't have a shot on goal and was minus-1. Marian Hossa had 2 shots, neither of them dangerous and was minus-1. Patrick Sharp took a poor penalty that led to a Canucks power-play goal, Duncan Keith was minus-2, and Brent Seabrook was on the ice for 3 of Vancouver's 4 goals.
“We need more from our top guys,” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. “Production is the one thing that you're looking for whether it's offensive zone time or scoring chances and finish. Our power play was the part that really slowed us down in the game. Both of them today were tough to watch.”
The Hawks were 0-for-2 on the power play and are 0-for-5 for the series.
Toews seemed to be fighting the puck all night while Hossa wasn't around it nearly as much as the Hawks need him to be.
“I'm not going to get frustrated,” Toews said. “It's not fun when you're working as hard as you can and you get close to the net it seems like the puck is bouncing off your stick or shots are getting blocked and you're not getting them to the net.
“I'm not going to get in any mental category where I feel it's not going my way and not going in. It's playoffs and whether you're getting bounces or not you've got to keep working.”
Hossa has been a total nonfactor in the first two games.
“Definitely we expect from ourselves the same things,” Hossa said. “We have to fight through and find a way to be productive.”
The Canucks' best players made a difference. Daniel Sedin had 2 goals and an assist while Ryan Kesler was all over the ice with 5 shots on goal and 7 hits.
While the Hawks played at a more appropriate pace, especially in a frantic third period, defensive breakdowns hurt with the end result another loss as the best-of-seven series shifts to the United Center.
That's not necessarily good news for the Hawks, who lost 17 times on home ice during the regular season while the Canucks were the NHL's best road team at 27-10-4, allowing only 92 goals in those 41 games.
“We have to win the next game or it's not going to be good,” Hossa said.
It was the Canucks following the same game plan as in Game 1 as they came out hitting everything in Hawks white. Defenseman Alex Edler established the tone in the first minute when he leveled Patrick Kane with a check.
The Hawks began to get frustrated as the first period wore on with Sharp taking an undisciplined tripping penalty against Christian Ehrhoff after a whistle at 19:19 in front of goalie Roberto Luongo.
The Canucks made Sharp and the Hawks pay with a power-play goal from Daniel Sedin 30 seconds into the second period.
Twice the Hawks got within 1 goal, but both times they allowed the Canucks to come right back and score.
• For more Hawks talk, check out Tim's Between the Circles blog at dailyherald.com and follow his Blackhawks reports via Twitter @TimSassone.