One of my favorite games in the maturation of me becoming a gamer was “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” It was one of the first games I ever got for my Commodore 64, and it was a blend of problem solving and education. (Truth be told, I probably got all A’s in my geography-related social studies tests as a result.)
Right now in the Stanley Cup Finals, Chicago Blackhawks fans are probably asking themselves a different kind of question that may involve some problem solving. Where in the world are Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Marian Hossa?
After a blistering start to the first three Stanley Cup Playoffs series against the Nashville Predators, Minnesota Wild, and Anaheim Ducks — specifically Patrick Kane who had 10 goals in those first three series — the dynamic trio has been held quiet thus far in three games in the Finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Since an emotional, seven-game series with Anaheim, Kane, Toews, and Hossa have seen their performances dip dramatically.
Western Conference Finals vs. Anaheim Ducks:
Patrick Kane: 3 goals, 4 assists, 21 shots
Jonathan Toews: 5 goals, 2 assists, 18 shots
Marian Hossa: 3 goals, 2 assists, 24 shots
First Three Games of Stanley Cup Finals vs. Tampa Bay Lightning:
Patrick Kane: 0 goals, 0 assists, 6 shots
Jonathan Toews: 0 goals, 1 assist, 8 shots
Marian Hossa: 0 goals, 3 assists, 5 shots
Hossa told reporters after the Game 3 loss on Tuesday night that he does not believe that his younger counterparts on the offensive lines aren’t struggling. They’re still working to put the puck in the net and light the lamp.
“Those two can always just score goals. [They are] creating so much room for other players. But we’ve got so many guys that can put the puck in the net, we just have to regroup here and get even better the next game.”
That next game for the Blackhawks is tonight at 8 p.m. EST at the United Center and on NBCSN.
People who believe that this isn’t a problem will point to the fact that Tampa Bay Lightning superstar Steven Stamkos has also not registered a point in this Stanley Cup Finals, either. That’s a valid argument, but the Lightning are getting so much from other sources. The Lightning do not necessarily NEED Stamkos to produce. Right about now, he’d be an added bonus to a team that is getting incredible production from the “Triplets Line” of Ondřej Palát, Tyler Johnson, and Nikita Kucherov. The second line for Tampa Bay has combined for three goals and three assists in the first three games of these Stanley Cup Finals and causing all kinds of hell for the undermanned Blackhawks defense.
The Lightning don’t NEED Stamkos to beat Chicago. The Blackhawks NEED production from Kane, Toews, and Hossa to stand a chance the rest of the way.
“We’ve run into really good goaltenders in important series in the past and we just chip away and keep working and, eventually, we always find ways to open the floodgates a little bit, so that is what we have to focus on,” Toews told writers.
That is very true. The Chicago Blackhawks have been here before. They were down three games to two to the Anaheim Ducks in the Western Conference Finals this year and won. Chicago started last year’s playoffs down 0-2 to the St. Louis Blues before winning four straight games, advancing to beat Minnesota in round two only to get bounced by the L.A. Kings in last year’s playoffs. Two years ago, the Blackhawks were down 3-1 to the Detroit Red Wings in the Semi-Finals and 2-1 to the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Finals and won the cup.
There is a trend of the Blackhawks being able to overcome adversity in dire circumstances. That’s why Chicago fans probably aren’t too worried right now, but if the California-level scoring drought by their top offensive players continues, how long will they continue to remain calm?
Chicago isn’t exactly facing Dominik Hasek or Patrick Roy in their prime, here. With all due respect to Lightning goalie Ben Bishop, he’s done just enough not to cost Tampa Bay games (2.33 GAA and a .909 SV%). Bishop was moving very gingerly after the second period of Game 3, so it would be easy to figure that Chicago may come out like gang busters and put up five or six goals tonight.
The question is will they.
Patrick Kane has said that the Chicago Blackhawks do not really care who is scoring the goals for the team just so long as someone is. That’s an accurate thing to say, but if you and your fellow high-scoring mates don’t help with the scoring sometime soon, things could get real ugly, real quick both tonight in Game 4 and for the rest of the series.
Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals is tonight at 8 p.m. on NBCSN.
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