How Blackhawks' penalty kill became one of NHL's best units after a system change

Blackhawks' Penalty Kill Revolutionized Under New System

The Chicago Blackhawks' penalty kill has transformed into one of the NHL's most elite units under new coach Jeff Blashill's system changes. The unit now boasts an impressive 85.2% kill rate, second only to the Colorado Avalanche. This remarkable turnaround is attributed to a more complex "push-down" system that challenges players to think differently about defending against power plays.

Blashill acknowledged that some of his veteran players were initially skeptical about abandoning their traditional "diamond" setup. However, once they grasped the new strategy, which emphasizes defensive pressure and quick decision-making, it has proven highly effective. The Hawks' defensemen, such as Connor Murphy and Alex Vlasic, have benefited from the system's emphasis on positioning and reading opponent passes.

The forwards, too, have adapted to the new demands of the penalty kill. Jason Dickinson and Ilya Mikheyev are among the team's top killers, with Mikheyev's exceptional stick-handling skills making him a nightmare for opposing teams. The defensemen's ability to spring towards the perimeter of the zone to disrupt passes has also proven crucial.

One area where the Hawks have improved significantly is in their ability to manage shots on the penalty kill. With 6.4 shots per minute, they now concede the sixth-fewest in the league, a testament to their players' growing comfort with the new system.

While the Blackhawks' power play has also shown improvement, ranking seventh in the NHL with a 22.9% conversion rate, it's clear that special teams have become a significant strength for the team. Their combined penalty kill and power play now rank second-best in the league.

Blashill credits his assistant coach Michael Peca for helping to refine the system and emphasize its details. With over half a season remaining, it will be interesting to see how the Hawks' penalty kill continues to evolve and dominate opponents on the man advantage.

So the Blackhawks are killing it now under Jeff Blashill's new system! It's awesome to see the team adapt and become one of the best penalty kills in the league. I think it's great that they're challenging their players to think differently about defense, it's a game-changer. The way Connor Murphy and Alex Vlasic are reading opponent passes is so smart. And Jason Dickinson and Ilya Mikheyev are killing it (pun intended) on the penalty kill. The team's ability to manage shots on the power play has also improved significantly, which is huge. Now they're a force to be reckoned with on special teams. ️

I'm so stoked about the Blackhawks' penalty kill revolution! It's amazing how a fresh system can transform your entire team. The way they're pushing down on defense is like a meditation session for their players - it's all about being present in the moment and reacting to the game. I love how the forwards are getting more comfortable with the new demands, too. Jason Dickinson and Ilya Mikheyev are absolute rockstars out there! Their ability to read the play and disrupt passes is like a breath of fresh air. And can we talk about how well Connor Murphy and Alex Vlasic are thriving in this new system? They're like two peas in a pod, working together seamlessly to shut down opposing teams. The numbers don't lie - 85.2% kill rate? That's just incredible! It's all about the little things, like managing shots on the penalty kill and being quick on their feet. These guys are like ninja warriors out there!

OMG the new penalty kill strategy from Jeff Blashill is giving me LIFE I mean, 85.2% kill rate? That's insane! The way they're pushing down and challenging players to think differently about defending against power plays is totally genius . And it's not just one or two guys who are killing it – the whole team is on board with this new system . I'm loving how Connor Murphy, Alex Vlasic, Jason Dickinson, and Ilya Mikheyev are all feeding off each other out there . The stats speak for themselves: 6.4 shots per minute? That's just crazy-tight defense . Bring on the rest of the season – I'm hyped to see how this penalty kill continues to evolve!

I'm so down with this new "push-down" system , I think it's all about playing to the Blackhawks' weaknesses... and they've been pretty brutal in conceding shots on the penalty kill ️, like 6.4 a minute is actually kinda impressive if you ask me? And let's be real, those forwards who are killing it on the PK are probably just coasting off their offense skills , it's not like they're doing anything crazy special out there. I mean, where's the challenge in that? Give me a break!

I'm loving the Blackhawks' new penalty kill system! It's amazing how much of a difference a fresh approach can make. I mean, 85.2% is insane! The way Blashill's system challenges players to think on their feet and apply defensive pressure has really paid off. And it's not just the defensemen who are stepping up - our forwards are killing it too! Jason Dickinson and Ilya Mikheyev are like a dynamic duo out there, always anticipating the opponent's next move.

One thing that's impressed me is how well the team has adapted to managing shots on the penalty kill. They've really minimized their giveaways, which is huge for a team that prides itself on being physical. And it's not just about the numbers - I think what's even more impressive is how well the players are working together as a unit.

I'm excited to see where this system takes them in the rest of the season! Maybe they can even make a push for that top spot?

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I think its pretty cool how the Blackhawks have turned their penalty kill around under Blashill's new system . Its amazing how much of a difference the "push-down" strategy can make, especially with players like Vlasic and Murphy excelling at defensive pressure and quick reads on offense. And I mean, Mikheyev's stick-handling skills are insane ! The Hawks' ability to manage shots on the penalty kill has also improved dramatically, conceding the sixth-fewest in the league – that's a huge accomplishment. Its clear that special teams have become a real strength for this team . With Blashill and Peca's system still evolving, I'm curious to see how it will continue to impact the Hawks' performance down the stretch

I'm loving the Blackhawks' new penalty kill strategy ! It's so cool to see how they've been able to adapt and make their defensemen and forwards think differently about defending against power plays. I mean, it's not just about blocking shots anymore, but also about reading passes and making quick decisions on the ice . And it's awesome that Jason Dickinson and Ilya Mikheyev have stepped up as top killers - they're a total dynamic duo! The way their defensemen can spring towards the perimeter of the zone to disrupt passes is genius . Anyway, I'm super excited to see how this new system continues to evolve and helps the Hawks dominate opponents on the man advantage .

omg i was just thinking about hockey the other day ️ and i totally forgot what a "diamond" setup is... sounds like its some kinda formation where everyone's in a triangle or something? anyway, it sounds like the new coach has really changed their game, especially on defense. i'm not super into hockey myself, but this penalty kill thingy seems pretty cool i wonder if they're gonna make any more changes or just stick with what's working so far... maybe they'll even get some new players to shake things up?

This is quite fascinating stuff , I think what's most impressive about Blashill's system change is that it's not just about tweaking existing strategies but actually rethinking the fundamental approach to defending against power plays . The emphasis on defensive pressure and quick decision-making has clearly paid off for the Blackhawks, and it's intriguing to see how they continue to adapt and evolve under this new framework .

The fact that players like Mikheyev have been able to capitalize on these changes is a testament to the team's overall cohesion and willingness to adapt . Of course, there's always room for improvement, but to be already second-best in the league with half a season remaining is no small feat . I'm excited to see how this story unfolds and whether other teams take note of Blashill's innovative approach .

omg this is insane the way they've improved their penalty kill is like a breath of fresh air i love how coach blashill's new system has gotten everyone on the same page - it's not just about throwing pucks at the net, but actually thinking about defense and pressure. and kudos to those guys for adapting so quickly connor murphy and alex vlasic are my heroes now lol i've always loved their skills, but now they're like totally unstoppable

I'm loving this new system the Blackhawks are using ! They were getting smoked on the PK for years and now they're one of the best in the league . I think it's awesome that Jeff Blashill is willing to experiment with different strategies and make adjustments as needed . The players have really come together and bought into this new way of thinking about defense . Connor Murphy and Alex Vlasic are killing it out there , and Jason Dickinson's stick-handling skills are a game-changer . It'll be fun to see how they continue to evolve over the next half-season . One thing that stands out is their ability to manage shots on the PK - 6.4 shots per minute is insane! Overall, I think this new system is a huge credit to Blashill and his team's hard work

I'm loving the Blackhawks' new penalty kill system ! It's like they've turned up the intensity and players are having to think faster and react quicker on their skates. I'm not surprised Connor Murphy and Alex Vlasic have taken to it so well, those guys are always top-notch defenders . And Jason Dickinson's stick-handling skills are insane ! But what really caught my eye is how they've managed shots on the penalty kill, that's a huge improvement . The team's special teams units are looking like a well-oiled machine now , and I'm excited to see how it all plays out over the rest of the season !

I'm loving the Blackhawks' new penalty kill setup ! It's crazy to think that just a few months ago they were struggling, and now they're one of the best in the league . I think it's awesome that coach Blashill was willing to shake things up and try something new – it's paid off big time . The fact that players like Murphy and Vlasic are benefiting from the system with their positioning and reading skills is really impressive . And Mikheyev's stick-handling skills are a total game-changer ! The team's ability to manage shots on the penalty kill has also improved so much – it's great to see them focusing on that aspect of the game . Fingers crossed they keep this momentum going and dominate on the man advantage for the rest of the season

I gotta say , I'm loving the way the Blackhawks are killing it (pun intended) on the penalty kill under Jeff Blashill's new system! 85.2% is insane ! The "push-down" system has clearly made a huge difference, and it's awesome to see the veteran players coming around to the new strategy .

I think what's most impressive is how quickly they've adapted, especially on the defensive end . Connor Murphy and Alex Vlasic are totally killing it (sorry again) as defensemen, and Jason Dickinson and Ilya Mikheyev are making plays on offense that are hard to ignore .

It's also great to see the team managing shots on the penalty kill so well . 6.4 shots per minute is a huge improvement over last season - it just goes to show how much of an impact this new system has had .

Can't wait to see how they continue to evolve and dominate teams on the power play and penalty kill !

This new system by Jeff Blashill is straight fire ! I mean, 85.2% penalty kill rate? That's insane . The way they're pushing players to think differently about defending against power plays has really paid off. And it's awesome to see the vets come around and adapt . Connor Murphy and Alex Vlasic are killing it on D .

The forwards have also stepped up their game, with Jason Dickinson and Ilya Mikheyev leading the charge . And that defensemen positioning is so crucial - it's like a puzzle they're solving out there .

I love how Blashill is giving credit to his assistant coach Michael Peca for helping refine the system . It just goes to show that teamwork and communication are key in hockey. The Hawks' penalty kill is looking unstoppable, and I'm excited to see what the rest of the season holds ️.

omg i cant believe how much of a difference blashill's coaching change has made to the hawks' penalty kill! i was skeptical at first but now they're like second best in the league and its all thanks to that new "push-down" system they've got. murphy and vlasic are killing it out there as defenders and dickinson and mikheyev are just a dream on the ice with their stick-handling skills i love how blashill is always tweaking the system to keep players on their toes too now we just gotta see if they can keep up this pace all season long

I'm so not impressed with this new "push-down" system... I mean, who needs all that extra pressure? It's just gonna wear out their players like a pair of worn-out skates . And what's up with this emphasis on perimeter defense? In my day, we played D for D's sake! Not some fancy-schmancy "read the opponent's pass" nonsense... Just give me a good ol' fashioned body check and I'm set .

And don't even get me started on those forwards, Dickinson and Mikheyev. They're just a couple of flash-in-the-pan players who can't even hold a candle to the likes of Kane or Toews . And what's with all these "system changes"? Can't they just stick with what works? The Blackhawks were fine before this Blashill guy came along... now it's like they're trying too hard to be some kinda fancy NHL team .

And have you seen their power play numbers? 22.9% is still a far cry from the 30s and 40s they used to put up... this system is just a bunch of hype . I'll believe it when I see some actual results, not some fancy stats and "elite unit" labels .

I think what's so impressive about this new penalty kill system is that it's all about adapting to the game situation quickly . It's not just about standing around waiting for the puck, but actually using your positioning and vision to disrupt the opponent's offense. And it looks like Jeff Blashill has done a great job of getting his players to buy into this new way of thinking . I mean, you can see how the forwards have adjusted to be more aggressive on the penalty kill, and the defensemen are really selling out to try and intercept passes . The stats back it up too - 85.2% kill rate is insane!