Offense continues to lack as Blackhawks fall to Preds

Shoot the puck.

It's not that hard, right?

When the opportunity arises shoot the puck.

This has been a foreign concept to the Blackhawks and it's a big reason why their offense hasn't been clicking for years.

Such is not the case for teams like Florida, Boston, Pittsburgh, Calgary and Carolina. I watched the Hurricanes' 5-3 victory over Detroit on Thursday - a game in which they played with just 10 forwards - and all they did was shoot, shoot, shoot.

It's no wonder they're 20-7-1.

Meanwhile, the Hawks rank 31st in shots on goal per game at 27.7 and 29th in goals per game at 2.28.

This pass-first mindset continued during a 3-2 overtime loss Nashville on Friday at the United Center as the Hawks took just 2 shots on five power-play chances and managed just 19 in all.

Kirby Dach (5) and Jonathan Toews (3) scored the goals for the Hawks (11-15-3).

The Predators (19-10-1) won their seventh straight it when Tanner Jeannot tapped in a pass from Roman Josi 58 seconds into OT.

Every single Hawks player has been at fault at some point this season when it comes to passing up a scoring chance. So what can the coaching staff do to change everyone's mindset?

"We've just to keep in their ear," said interim coach Derek King. "I can't bench any of 'em for it. I think the whole team would be sitting there."

After producing a wry smile, King continued by saying: "You look for those lateral plays because they are tough to stop if it does click. But when we're struggling with the puck or fighting it with your hands, maybe that's when we need to get in the mindset of putting pucks towards the net and keeping it simple."

Here are three glaring examples of where that should have happened against Nashville:

• During the second period, Brandon Hagel had a point-blank chance 15 feet in front of the net, only to dish the puck off.

• Moments later, Toews came roaring into the slot during a power play and could have fired at Preds goalie Juuse Saros, but opted to whip the puck cross ice to Dylan Strome. It didn't connect and another scoring chance evaporated. If he shoots, maybe the puck goes in. Or maybe the rebound bounces right to Strome.

• Early in the third, Erik Gustafsson had a chance to fire from 30 feet away, but looked for a redirect instead. It got redirected all right - by a Predators stick.

"At times we're trying to look for the perfect play rather than trying to get a greasy one or throwing it in there and trying to stir things up," said defenseman Riley Stillman, who assisted on Toews' goal. "We have to do a better job of, if there's any opportunity to take a shot, take it."

Amen to that.

Now we'll see if the Hawks actually change their mindset at Dallas on Saturday.

• Twitter: @johndietzdh.