Blackhawks' playoff hopes all but zapped after 7-4 loss to Lightning
There's almost nothing worse in the professional sports world than when your team falls out of the playoff race.
Jeremy Colliton knows this all too well, which was why he was hoping the Blackhawks could stay in the hunt just a little longer with a win over Tampa Bay at the United Center on Tuesday.
"The longer we can stay in the race, the better for everyone," he said. "It's a lot easier to prepare for these types of games - especially with no fans - if the games mean something in the standings."
Unfortunately for the Hawks, the playoff dream all but died as the Lightning exploded for 6 goals in the first 34 minutes and went on to claim a 7-4 victory. The Hawks (22-22-5) are 7 points behind Nashville and 5 behind the Stars with five of their final seven games coming against Florida (32-14-5) and Carolina (32-10-7).
"If we're gonna be competitive and we're gonna win hockey games at the end here we're gonna need to be better," said Colliton whose team went 1-6-1 against Tampa Bay this season. "We had some bad things happen to us, some adversity, which certainly is part of it. But I'd like us to respond better."
Tampa Bay (33-14-2) is one of the best teams in the league and figures to have a decent chance to repeat as Stanley Cup champs.
They're deep and talented. They hit you hard. They chase down loose pucks like mad. And they never, ever back down.
For a team like the Hawks that means there is zero margin for error, something they know but don't always put into practice. The perfect example came in the opening minute when Riley Stillman carelessly turned the puck over in the offensive zone, leading to Erik Cernak's breakaway goal at 0:28.
The Lightning ended up taking a 3-1 lead after 15 minutes, burying 3 of their first 7 shots and ending Lankinen's night after one period. Lankinen has allowed 22 goals in his last six starts, managing just an .856 save percentage and 4.39 goals-against average.
"They've got depth everywhere and it's hard," Colliton said. "But we've shown that we can play with them when we're dialed in and we're committed totally to doing the right things with and without the puck.
"That's the standard and if you don't reach that standard, then you get put in a tough spot and the pucks go in."
The Hawks did fight back from a 6-2 deficit, getting goals from Duncan Keith and Dominik Kubalik. The Lightning put it away, however, on an empty netter from Alex Killorn.
There was a lot of physical play in this one, with Kubalik taking an elbow from Luke Schenn midway through the first period. Kubalik went sprawling to the ice and retreated to the locker room. He was able to return.
Just 2½ minutes later, Nikita Zadorov dropped the gloves with Schenn. Midway through the second period Connor Murphy then fought Erik Cernak after Cernak hit Mike Hardman next to the Hawks' bench.
The toughest blow for the Hawks came when Adam Boqvist broke his wrist after being hit by Cernak in the second period. Boqvist is done for the season.
Which is exactly what we can say about the Hawks. Not that Colliton is thinking that way, of course.
"You're not out of it until they put the letter beside your name," he said. "The other part is we need to continue to build a mentality that we can win with going forward. Those habits and details and work ethic, they protect you and allow you to have success.
"We're going to play these games ... and then after we're going to have to live with our performance. Your name's on the sheet and you stand for it."