The Chicago Blackhawks Winning Formula: They Don’t Know Any Better!

According to so many NHL analysts, the Chicago Blackhawks have reached the second round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs on sheer “they just don’t know any better”. Apparently, when they fall back by a few goals early in a game, the young core of players does not understand that teams usually give up at this point, so instead of rolling over, they keep playing! CBC and TSN analyst groups have formed a consensus. From ex-coaches Marc Crawford and Peter Laviolette to ex-players Craig Simpson and Darren Pang the argument is trumpeted as the reason the Blackhawks have managed four comebacks of at least two goals in only eight playoff games thus far. Well, if the experts say so, then it must be true. I’ve learnt that when I become a general manager, I will assemble a team of 22 idiots and morons. My captain will be Duhh-ion Phaneuf, and his supporting cast a group of fourth line meatheads who have taken too many pops to the head over the years. The team won’t know any better, and they’ll win game after game!

I suppose if I’m going to assert that the ‘Hawks reasons for getting as far as they have is not quite so simple, I should explain the real reasons behind their success. For starters, they boast 10 players who scored 40 or more points during the regular season. In comparison, the Pittsburg Penguins had four 40 point scorers, the San Jose Sharks nine, and the Detroit Red Wings eleven. Led by 4 supremely skilled forwards in Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, and of course Martin Havlat, they are one of the most potent offensive teams in the league. Add defensemen Brian Campbell (52 points this season), Duncan Keith (44 points), and Cam Barker (40 points), and it’s clear why this team ranked fourth in goals for during the year, with 264.

Of course, no team can win through scoring alone, which is where the extremely effective third and fourth lines come into play. Ben Eager, Adam Burish, David Bolland, Sammy Pahlsson, Kris Versteeg, and Dustin Byfuglien all add grit and energy every night and they also have the ability to play with the puck on their sticks. Add a former Cup winning goalie to backstop the team, and it’s clear that the Blackhawks have a lot more going for them than sheer dumb luck. Of course, if and when this Chicago team is ousted from the playoffs, and the same analysts are doing the regular autopsy, they will undoubtedly blame the youth and inexperience of the Blackhawks for their demise. And we will be left scratching our heads.