Blackhawks searching for root cause of recurring second-period struggles

S

SyntaxCrafterBlaze

The Chicago Blackhawks are struggling to put together complete 60-minute efforts, with most of their woes occurring during the middle period. In contrast to being outscored 12-19 in second periods, they excel in first and third periods, boasting plus-seven and plus-14 goal differentials respectively.

It appears that a psychological aspect may be at play, as the Blackhawks feel overly confident after playing well in the first period and fail to maintain their intensity. This "riding the wave" mentality allows opponents to adjust and capitalize on the Hawks' complacency. The team's leaders, including captain Nick Foligno, acknowledge this issue, citing a need for players to be prepared for the second period despite being ahead.

However, strategic factors also contribute to the Blackhawks' struggles in the second period. Coach Jeff Blashill suspects that the team's inexperience and specific weaknesses make them more susceptible to the challenges of long line changes during defensive-zone shifts. When the Blackhawks aren't playing their best hockey, they struggle to break out from defense and maintain possession time.

To combat this issue, the Blackhawks have incorporated drills into practice, focusing on maintaining forechecking pressure while executing line changes with a second period in mind. By increasing possession time, which makes line changes easier, Blashill hopes to break the cycle of being stuck in defensive zones, expending energy, and then defending more.

While it's unclear whether both psychological and strategic factors are at play, one thing is certain: the Blackhawks must find a way to overcome their second-period struggles if they hope to complete 60-minute efforts and return to their high level of performance.
 
omg u think its weird how many NHL teams struggle with the middle period tho 🤯 it feels like a classic case of "we got this in the first" 😎 and then suddenly we're stuck trying not to lose 😅 i mean Blackhawks r tryna work on this but idk if its just mental or the coaches need 2 tweak sum strategies 🤔
 
I feel like the Hawks are just having a tough time finding that balance between playing well in spurts and maintaining it throughout the whole game 🤔. It's not all bad, they're killing it in the first and third periods, but that middle period is where they need to step up their game. I think it's cool that they're acknowledging this "riding the wave" mentality and working on being more prepared for the second period, even when they're ahead. Coach Blashill makes some good points about line changes too, it's not just a matter of playing well, but also executing those changes efficiently 💡. They need to find that sweet spot where they can break out from defense, maintain possession time, and still be able to capitalize on their chances 📈.
 
I think the Hawks need to work on that mental toughness 🤯... it's easy to feel good after a solid first period, but then you gotta bring it every shift 🔥. They can't just "ride the wave" and expect to win games, they need to be consistent throughout 60 minutes 💪. And yeah, practice drills are cool and all, but I think it's time for them to make some serious changes to their system ⚽️... maybe get that line change thing down pat 🕒... would love to see 'em figure out a way to break through those defensive zone blues 🤔
 
idk what's going on with this team... they're so solid in the first & third periods but just crumble in the middle 🤔💔. it's like they forget how to play hockey after a good start. coaches need to figure out a way to make them more mentally tough 🏒️💪. and honestly, some of these line changes are ridiculous... can't they just maintain possession for 2 minuts? 🙄💥
 
I think its pretty wild how teams can totally flip their game around in the middle period lol 🤯. The Blackhawks are like, totally on fire in the first and third periods, but then suddenly become a total mess in the second 🚫. Its like they're trying to ride that first-period wave for too long instead of keeping it steady throughout the 60 minutes.

I feel like this "riding the wave" mentality is super relatable for anyone who's ever played sports or done any kinda intense activity where you get pumped up and forget about what needs to be done next 🏃‍♂️. But at the same time, its also gotta be a tough lesson to learn, especially when youre in the midst of it.

I'm loving that Coach Blashill is addressing both psychological and strategic factors - thats the kind of thinking that can really help teams break out of their ruts 🔝. And who knows, maybe with some extra drills and practice, they'll be able to keep that momentum going throughout the whole game 🏆!
 
I think what really gets me is how this "riding the wave" mentality affects them in terms of opponent strategy 🤔. Like, if they're winning so easily in the first period, teams are gonna start making adjustments right from the get-go, you feel? It's all about exploiting their confidence and momentum. And yeah, it's not just about the players - the coaches have gotta find ways to counter this too 😅. I mean, it's not like they're not doing drills or anything, but maybe they need to be more proactive in finding ways to even the playing field.
 
im totally gettin what the blackhawks are dealin with! it's like they're ridin that first period wave but then they just kinda coast and expect the next period to magically happen 🤔... meanwhile, teams like wingers, gotta capitalize on those lapses cuz chicago's got some serious weaknesses in the second act 💪. i think coach blashill's onto somethin with these drills tho - if they can get their forechecking pressure up and make line changes easier, maybe they can break that 2nd period curse 🔓... but, gotta feel for the hawks fans right now 🤷‍♂️
 
I'm all about that consistent effort 💪🏼! It's crazy how the Hawks are killing it in the first and third periods, but then just kinda... chill out in the middle 🤯. I get it, they're trying to conserve energy, but that's not gonna cut it if they wanna be a top team in the league.

I'm loving that Blashill is on it, though - bringing in new drills to work on maintaining forechecking pressure and executing line changes with a second period mindset 📝🔥. It's all about finding that balance between playing hard and not exhausting yourself 💆‍♂️. If they can crack the code, I'm predicting big things for this team! ⚡️
 
I feel like the team needs to work on their mental toughness, you know? One game they're killing it in the first period, but then they just kinda...zone out in the second 🤦‍♂️. I've noticed this before with other teams too - when you're winning or playing well, your opponents can adjust and take it away from you. The team needs to learn to stay focused and intense throughout the whole game, not just during the good moments 😊. And yeah, strategic changes like working on line changes and possession time are a good start, but they gotta be consistent with those drills in practice 🏒️.
 
I'm not sure I buy into this "riding the wave" mentality explanation 🤔. It feels like a cop-out to me, like they're trying to make excuses instead of owning up to their own lack of effort in the second period. The Hawks are a talented team, but if they can't figure out how to maintain that momentum over 60 minutes, it's going to be tough for them to succeed.

And what's with all these drills and practices? 🏒️ It feels like they're trying to fix everything through fancy training exercises rather than actually addressing the underlying issues. I mean, sure, possession time is important, but can't they just get their act together on the ice instead of relying on coaches and trainers to fix it for them?

I'm not saying it's impossible for the Hawks to overcome their second-period struggles, but it's going to take more than a few tweaks in practice to fix this problem. They need to take a hard look at themselves and figure out what's really going on here 💪.
 
I'm getting so sick of these teams going through the motions in the second period 🤯🏒️. Like, can't they just keep the momentum going? They're killing it in the first and third periods, but somehow manage to fall apart as soon as they're up by a goal 📉. It's all about mental toughness and adjusting to the opponent's strategy, guys! And don't even get me started on those long line changes - it's like they're just gonna sit back and let the other team dictate the pace of the game ⏱️. The Blackhawks need to step up their practice game and find a way to maintain that intense forechecking pressure throughout 60 minutes 💪. Otherwise, they'll be stuck in neutral forever 😴.
 
omg u guyz think the blackhawks r 2 cool 4 everythin lol n then dey go nd struggle in da 2nd period like wut 😂. i think its cuz dey get too hyped afta havin a sick 1st period n den they lose focus. but hey coach blashill iz doin sumthin rite by makin dem practice line changes w/ da 2nd period in mind 🤔. maybe dey just need 2 b more mentally tough or somethin? i dunno but it wd be sick if dey cud find a way 2 overcome dis mid-game slump 😎
 
man this team is like super inconsistent 🤯 their 1st and 3rd periods are on point but the 2nd period is where they go downhill 📉 it's like they get too comfy and lose focus 🙄 gotta work on those line changes, can't let them get caught sleeping 💤 with all that energy expending in the D zone 😩 need to mix up their drills a bit and make 'em more focused 🔥
 
omg u guyz i cant believe chicago blackhawks r having such probles lol its like dey get complacent af in da middle period 🤦‍♂️ & dont no how 2 mantain intesnse 🔥 but i feel like coach blashill is on da right track w/ new drills 2 practic 💪 & makin players aware of 2 b prepard 4 de sec period 👍 plus dey need 2 work on breakin out from defense & maintain possession time 🕒 idk if its psychological or strategik but they gotta figg it out ASAP 😅
 
I think this is where the magic happens 🧙‍♂️. The Hawks' issue with middle periods is super relatable – we've all been there, feeling like we're cruising along, but then our game starts to stagnate. I'm no hockey expert, but it seems like they need to find a way to keep that first-period energy going throughout the whole game 🏒️. Maybe they should work on their transition play from defense to offense? That would help 'em avoid getting stuck in defensive zones for too long ⏱️. And yeah, it's cool that they're acknowledging this psychological aspect – players gotta stay focused and ready to go, even when they're up by a few goals 😅. Blashill seems like the right coach for the job 🤓. Can't wait to see how they tackle this in practice! 💪
 
omg I feel like this team needs to work on being consistent from start to finish 🤯... it's crazy how much of a difference the middle period makes, like they're basically just phoning it in after the first 20 minutes 😴... and yeah, it makes total sense that they'd be more confident early on and then get complacent, but ugh, can't they just stay focused? 🤔... I mean, I know they've been trying to work on this in practice with drills and all, but it's not like it's going to be easy to change habits overnight 💪... do you think the lack of experience is a major factor here, or is it more about them just being outsmarted by their opponents? 🤝...
 
man this is crazy how teams can have a momentum shift in like 20 minutes 🤯 it's all about being aware of your own game, you feel confident for one period but then that confidence turns into complacency which is deadly against top opponents.

it's also super relatable when you're on a roll and you don't know how to shut it off, it's like you're not even trying anymore 😴. the fact that they're incorporating drills to work on those line changes shows that they're aware of this problem and willing to make changes.

the key takeaway here is that consistency is everything in sports (and life) if you can maintain your focus and intensity throughout the entire game, you'll be hard to beat 🏆
 
🤔 The Hawks just can't seem to put together a full 60-minutes game 🕒️. They're like, crushing it in the first & third periods 🔥, but then kinda check out in the middle ⏱️. It's like they're riding this wave of confidence and suddenly become complacent 😴. Coach Blashill thinks they need to prep for the 2nd period more, even when they're up 🤔. And honestly, it makes sense, 'cause when they start playing poorly, they get stuck in D-zone & can't break out ⛸️. But I think it's also about their experience level – they know they need to bring that pressure forward 💪. They've been working on drills to help with line changes and possession time ⏱️, so hopefully, this is the start of a turnaround 🔄.
 
🤔 I think the Hawks need to stop trying so hard to be all-time great in the first period 🙅‍♂️. It's cool to get a lead, but then what? They're like "oh, we're up, now let's just cruise" 😴. Meanwhile, their opponents are all like "alright, they're ahead, time to adjust our game plan" 🤓. If they could find that middle ground where they don't get too high or too low, maybe they'd be more consistent throughout the 60 minutes ⏰.

Also, can we talk about how weird it is when a team's coach says "we're not trying hard enough"... like what does that even mean? 😂 Are they saying their players aren't trying hard? That's just gonna make them wanna prove the coach wrong 💪.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top