The Blackhawks Must Break Out of Their Defensive Zone

Shutout in Utah

The Blackhawks entered Utah optimistic to add a win to their belt. Chicago had won the past four matchups between the two, so it seemed this could be their fifth straight win against the club.

The outcome was quite the opposite and pretty ugly. Not only did the Mammoth win 6-0, but it was also their first home shutout in franchise history. Utah did everything right, and Chicago could not get a leg up on them.

Similar to their game against the Golden Knights, the Blackhawks trailed in shots on goal. This game was even worse, as Utah had more than double the amount. In the first period, the Blackhawks had seven shots compared to the Mammoth’s 13. The second period got sloppier, with two shots compared to their 13, and in the third period both teams had six shots on goal.

Adding to the vast performance differences, the Blackhawks again struggled on the face-off. Utah won it over 70% of the time, leaving Chicago with a measly 27.8% of those possessions. The Mammoth also had two successful power plays.

According to NHL EDGE, the Blackhawks only spend 37.7% of their time in the offensive zone compared to the league average of 40.9%. This is especially low compared to the Mammoth, who spend 44.7% of their time in the offensive zone.

Overall, they wiped the ice with Chicago.

Utah controlled the pace of the game, keeping heavy pressure in the offensive zone. The Blackhawks were trapped in survival mode on defense, which kept them from establishing any pressure on offense.

Late Collapse in Buffalo Keeps Chicago Winless

Game three started with hope blossoming for Blackhawks fans. Ryan Donato and Tyler Bertuzzi scored two early goals, making for a complete turnaround from the first two matches.

By the second period, the game was tied, but Oliver Moore scored late to send the Blackhawks into the third period with the lead. Things were looking up for Chicago.

But alas, everything began to fall apart. Rasmus Dahlin of the Sabres tied the game with a snap shot, and Jiri Kulich scored late in the third, leaving the Blackhawks scrambling. The final game of their road trip ended in another loss.

Once again, the Blackhawks had nearly half as many shots on goal; however, Knight had a better save percentage than Buffalo’s goalie. On giveaways and takeaways, the Blackhawks had the advantage, but they couldn’t capitalize. If they had gotten out of their defensive zone more, the outcome may have been very different.

No Time for Chicago to Settle

A late-game scramble isn’t something a team strives for. Controlling the pace of the game creates harmony, as all parts can work together like a well-oiled machine. The Blackhawks are off to a choppy start, allowing too much pressure in their defensive zone and not applying enough pressure on their opponents.

In each of their first three games, Chicago has been chasing the puck. They cannot build momentum when they are constantly draining energy defending. They need to break out of their zone and start driving forward; if they keep trailing in shots, the odds won’t be in their favor.

The addition of Bowen Byram was meant to help reform Chicago’s defense. In the preseason, Byram worked well in transition, even scoring a hat trick. He played the first two regular-season games but was unavailable in Buffalo due to a family matter.

With a disappointing road trip behind them, Chicago will try to turn the tide at home.