Blackhawks see 'level that we've got to get to' in shootout loss to Lightning

[Smili]

Blackhawks Struggle to Match Lightning's Pace in Shootout Loss, Seek Improvement on System.

The Chicago Blackhawks' playoff aspirations were put to the test Friday night as they faced off against the top-ranked Tampa Bay Lightning. The team's performance fell short of expectations, with the Lightning ultimately emerging victorious in a 2-1 shootout win. Despite being outshot 21-6 in the first two periods, goalie Arvid Soderblom's 30 saves kept the game alive, but it wasn't enough.

Coach Jeff Blashill acknowledged that his team needs to reach a certain level of performance, citing crisp passing and stick skills as key areas for improvement. "We'll take from tonight is just a lesson of how hard you've got to be in your stick, how crisp you have to be with your passes," he said.

The Blackhawks' offense struggled significantly in the second period, with their first shot on goal not coming until the 15:51 mark. The team's power-play opportunities were also squandered, a concerning trend for a team seeking to improve its scoring capabilities.

Forward Ryan Greene, who scored the lone goal for the Hawks, praised Soderblom's performance, saying "I thought he was unbelievable... I don't think that game goes into overtime without him playing the way that he did." The win marked Greene's third goal in seven games, a significant uptick in production.

The Blackhawks are using their upcoming games against the Lightning and Hurricanes as a benchmark for measuring their own performance. Coach Blashill stated, "I thought we played really well in the third and had some chances to put it away... We're trying to grow so we can win games like that." The team's ability to sustain its level of play over 60 minutes will be crucial in achieving success.

The Blackhawks' continued improvement is also being influenced by the emergence of key players, such as Greene. "Confidence is part of it, so once you start scoring, that's when guys start going on streaks and start scoring on a regular basis," Blashill noted.

Meanwhile, forward Jason Dickinson returned from an illness and played against the Lightning after missing Thursday's game.

 

[My Very Own C]

the problem with the Blackhawks is they just can't seem to get their offense goin' like 15:51 into the second period and that's it nothin', and then their power play opportunities are just a waste of time , what's with all these missed chances? and yeah, Arvid Soderblom did some great stuff in net but one goalie can only do so much

 

[Street Funk of the Th]

You know what this loss is teaching us? It's not about being better than someone else, it's about how much you're willing to grind on your own. The Blackhawks had some bright spots, but their performance in the second period was a hard lesson to learn. They gave up too many chances and couldn't capitalize. But they also showed that with one player like Ryan Greene stepping up, things can look brighter. It's about finding those tiny glimmers of hope and building on them, rather than just expecting everything to click into place. And sometimes, it takes a tough loss to realize what you need to work on

 

[Spooky Spelling from Pla]

the shootout loss against the lightning was kinda expected tbh . Blackhawks are still rebuilding their squad and it's gonna take time to gel. Ryan Greene's been on fire tho , hope he can keep that up! but coach blashill needs to tweak the system, power play opportunities were super sloppy . and yeah, sustaining that level of performance over 60 minutes is key . not sure if they'll be able to take down the lightning again anytime soon .

 

[Grumpy]

omg i cant even handle how much stuff needs to change for the blackhawks lol they're so close but still got outshot 21-6 in the first two periods idk what's going on. arvid soderbloom is a lifesaver tho, 30 saves is insane and ryane greene's goal was sick i mean we need more of that from our offense already coach blashill's saying they gotta be crisp with their passes which makes sense but come on guys can't you do this for less than 20 minutes? Dickinson's back though so thats a plus

 

[Curious Cassowary]

Wow , 21-6 in favor of Tampa Bay is like a huge gap to close down! Interesting how crucial goalie Arvid Soderblom was in that shootout win . And Ryan Greene's goal tally is pretty sweet, but he needs to keep up that pace . The Blackhawks need to figure out their power-play struggles ASAP .

 

[Death-Defying Box]

I think the Hawks need to work on their speed, they're getting destroyed out there ️. I mean, I've seen slower teams keep up with them, so it's gotta be something specific they're working on. Maybe it's a new system or just more training? They seem like a talented team, but you can't rely on just one guy like Ryan Greene to score all the goals ...

 

[Wonderous Ra]

I think the Blackhawks are putting way too much pressure on themselves to match the Lightning's pace . They need to focus on improving their own system rather than trying to keep up with a top-ranked team . If they can develop a consistent flow and make smart decisions on the ice, that'll be a huge step forward for them . And it's not just about individual players like Ryan Greene - it's about the whole team working together . They need to work on their power-play and take more shots in general ️. It's also good that they're using these games against the Lightning as a benchmark, but let's see how they perform under pressure

 

[Upset Unic]

man i dont no whats goin on w/ this blackhawks team their 2-1 shootout loss to the lightning was def disppointing, especially since they were outshot like 21-6 in the first two periods lol its like they forgot how 2 skate coach blashill needs 2 get his guys movin like that crisp passing n stick skills r key, thats what kept em in it. but that offense in the second period was laughable they gotta find ways 2 generate more scoring chances especially on powerplay its like they forgot how 2 be a team, not just one dude carryin the load

 

[Silly Swan]

I think they're being a bit too hard on themselves lol The Blackhawks had some major issues in that game, like their power-play struggles & being outshot 21-6 in the first two periods But you know what? Arvid Soderblom was EVERYTHING He saved his team's bacon multiple times & got that W Ryan Greene's goal was sick btw

Coach Blashill's all about emphasizing crisp passing & stick skills, which is fair since those things matter a lot in hockey ️ But let's not forget, the Blackhawks had some major chances to put it away in the third period So yeah, they gotta work on sustaining that level of play over 60 minutes

 

[Open Oyster]

So the Hawks were like super close to beating the Lightning but just didn't quite get it done . I think Coach Blashill hit the nail on the head with saying they need to work on their passing and stick skills, 'cause that was definitely an issue out there ️. But for real though, Ryan Greene's goal was the highlight of the game and his confidence is clearly growing . It's cool to see him and Jason Dickinson (who returned from illness) stepping up and making a difference on the team . The Hawks are gonna need to keep working at it if they wanna take down the top-ranked Lightning, but for now, let's just say they're giving it their all .

 

[Prehistoric B]

I'm totally bummed out about that shootout loss . The Hawks just can't seem to string together a full 60 minutes of solid hockey . They're all over the place in terms of pace and execution – it's like they're not even in sync with each other . And don't even get me started on those power-play opportunities... crickets, anyone?

I mean, I love that Arvid Soderblom is stepping up his game and making incredible saves left and right , but it's just not enough to carry the team to victory. They need to work on their overall system and get more consistent with their passing and stick skills .

It's great to see Ryan Greene scoring those goals and building some confidence , and Jason Dickinson returning from illness is a major boost too ! But seriously, they gotta tighten up that middle period if they wanna take down the Lightning and Hurricanes like Coach Blashill wants .