The Blackhawks have now played (and lost) three games without Connor Bedard in the lineup. In those three games, the Blackhawks have been outscored 11-3. And they’re averaging only 22 shots on goal per game.
Obviously losing Bedard takes their most important, productive player out of the lineup. But the Blackhawks have been searching for combinations on lines without Bedard to consistently create offense for longer than he’s been out.
The Blackhawks were able to do some good things early in the season, but opponents have made adjustments. Now, it’s time for the Blackhawks to adjust to those changes. Bedard being out of the lineup gives the Blackhawks more of an opportunity to experiment with some lineups to see where there might be chemistry that works.
Here are three changes I would make before the Blackhawks take the ice in Ottawa on Saturday afternoon and a proposed lineup to see if they can at minimum see more shots on net, if not more shots going in.
Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn ImagesPut Nazar and Teräväinen back together
This one feels pretty simple for me. When Frank Nazar and Teuvo Teräväinen have been on the ice together, they’re both better. Natural Stat Trick tell us (at 5-0n-5) the Blackhawks have out-scored their opponents 12-10 when Nazar and Teräväinen are on the ice together. Nazar without Teräväinen: 4 Blackhawks goals to 10 for the opposition. Teräväinen without Nazar: 1 Blackhawks goal to 7 for the wrong side.
In 243:43 together at even strength this season, the Blackhawks have a 9.47 expected goals for with these two on the ice together.
If we add Tyler Bertuzzi to that mix — a trio that’s been on the ice for 127:24 together at 5-on-5 — the Blackhawks have a 51.45 Corsi For percentage and have out-scored opponents 7-4.
Matt Marton-Imagn ImagesTry Donato with Burakovsky more
Ryan Donato and André Burakovsky have only spent 29:49 together thus far at 5-on-5. But they have a 53.03 Corsi For percentage when they’re on the ice together in that time; they’re both at 48 percent when they’re separated.
Donato is a trigger man; Burakovsky carries the puck and enters the zone well. The Blackhawks have also generated 18 scoring chances and six high danger chances in that limited amount of ice time. Give it a look.
If we add Ryan Greene to this line, it would give us a larger sample size to digest with Burakovsky. I will note that the majority of the time those two have been on the ice together has been with Bedard; they’ve only spent 20:58 together without Bedard. But they do have a decent overall sample size (189:36 total 5-on-5 ice time together).
Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn ImagesLimit Lardis — somewhat
Nick Lardis has the ability to generate offense, we saw that in his first NHL game. And I can appreciate the coaches putting him on a line with Greene and Oliver Moore because of their familiarity with each other. Moore and Lardis spent time together in Rockford and both performed well. But we now have a three-game sample size in the NHL, and breaking them up might make more sense.
When Moore has been on the ice in the NHL at 5-on-5 without Lardis, the Blackhawks have a 48.56 Corsi For percentage. When Moore and Lardis are on the ice together (27:22 at 5-on-5), the Blackhawks have a 38.30 Corsi For percentage. The Blackhawks have 42 high danger chances and have been out-scored 13-11 when Moore is on the ice without Lardis at 5-on-5. The Blackhawks have an expected Goals For percentage of 53.24 with Moore on the ice at 5-on-5 without Lardis.
If the Blackhwaks put Moore’s speed on a line with Ilya Mikheyev, that could be scary for opponents.
This isn’t a knock on Lardis, but he’s the newest guy to come up. The Blackhawks have effectively sheltered Artyom Levshunov and Sam Rinzel in their roles in the NHL this season. Why not employ a similar strategy with Lardis?
Potential Lineup with Tweaks
Teuvo Teräväinen — Frank Nazar — Tyler BertuzziRyan Donato — Ryan Greene — André BurakovskyOliver Moore — Jason Dickinson — Ilya MikheyevColton Dach — Sam Lafferty/Nick Foligno — Nick Lardis
Hence then, the article about lineup changes the blackhawks should consider to drive more offense was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Lineup Changes the Blackhawks Should Consider to Drive More Offense )
Also on site :