The Blackhawks have played 40 minutes of respectable hockey in most games this season. That’s significantly better than zero or 20 minutes, as was often the case last season.
But they’re still struggling to put together complete 60-minute efforts. Most of the time, it’s the middle 20 minutes — the second period — during which they’re letting themselves down.
They’ve been outscored 19-12 in second periods, a minus-seven goal differential that’s tied for fourth-worst in the NHL (entering Friday). By contrast, their plus-seven differential in first periods is tied for the league’s best mark, and their plus-14 differential in third periods ranks second behind the Avalanche.
The same pattern is reflected in the Hawks’ analytics, which also indicate their positive differentials in the other two periods are likely unsustainable — but that’s another story.
Their scoring-chance ratios stand at 44.3% in first periods, 41.9% in second periods and 45.5% in third periods (with 50% representing the break-even point). Excluding the opening two-game road trip, which predated this pattern, those ratios are 46.5%, 40.0% and 46.1%, respectively.
The second-period woes have worsened during recent weeks. The Hawks have been dominated by the Canucks, Red Wings and Devils in the middle frames of three of their last four games, generating a combined 13 chances while allowing 44 in those periods in question. Only because of great goaltending have the Hawks survived.
What’s the reason for this trend? After some contemplation, two theories have arisen, and it’s possible both are true.
Psychological reasons
Hawks players think they might be losing some edge during first intermissions, feeling too pleased with themselves for generally playing well to start games.
“Maybe we’re taking our foot off the gas,” forward Andre Burakovsky said Friday. “[Maybe we’re] feeling that we had a good period and we’re just going to ride that wave, instead of trying to find the next step.”
Said captain Nick Foligno: “I don’t know if we take a breath because we don’t realize [our opponents are] going to push. Maybe they make some adjustments that we’re late to recognize as players. But the coaches prepare us. That’s on us as players to be ready for that second period, because we know it’s a little bit of a lull for us right now. It’s unacceptable.”
During second intermissions, the Hawks are channeling frustrations about the preceding period into plenty of fire and then taking that out on opponents down the stretch. Their challenge might entail learning how to play with fire even when things are going well.
Strategic reasons
There is one thing undeniably different about second periods: both teams’ benches are on their offensive side of the red line, making the so-called “long” line changes after defensive-zone shifts more difficult.
That applies to both teams equally, but coach Jeff Blashill suspects the Hawks’ inexperience and specific weaknesses might make them disproportionately affected by it.
“When we’re not playing out best, we’re not breaking the puck out clean and we’re not spending enough time in the [offensive] zone,” Blashill said. “That is amplified in the second period especially. You can get away with it a little bit more in the first and third. In the second, it really gets hammered because you can’t get people on and off the ice.”
During practice Friday, Blashill ran the team through a drill where they maintained forechecking pressure while simultaneously executing line changes.
That was done with second periods in mind. On Saturday against the Maple Leafs, Blashill hopes it will help the Hawks avoid what can become a “never-ending cycle” of spending a shift stuck in the defensive zone, expending all of their energy, dumping the puck in to change and then defending more.
He believes more possession time, which in turn makes line changes easier, might be the key to fixing this problem.
Note: Mostly good news emerged from practice Friday in regards to the forward injury situation. Burakovsky, Frank Nazar and Jason Dickinson all participated in practice, although Tyler Bertuzzi didn’t and Nazar left early. Blashill said Burakovsky will play Saturday and the other three players may or may not.