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"Sports Quote of the Day"
"There is one quality which one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it." ~ Napoleon Hill, New Thought Author
TRENDING: Lightning's third-period onslaught too much for Blackhawks. (See the hockey section for Blackhawks updates and NHL news).
TRENDING: Senior Bowl: Sadowski sees huge benefit for Bears. (See the football section for Bears News an NFL updates).
TRENDING: NBA Buzz: With trade deadline looming, Bulls' season at a crossroads.(See the basketball section for Bulls news and NBA updates).
TRENDING: NBA Buzz: With trade deadline looming, Bulls' season at a crossroads.(See the basketball section for Bulls news and NBA updates).
TRENDING: Here's Why We Should Be Bullish About Golf In 2017. (See the golf section for PGA news and tournament updates).
TRENDING: NASCAR announces enhancements to race formats. (See the NASCAR section for NASCAR news and racing updates).
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Lightning's third-period onslaught too much for Blackhawks.
By Tracey Myers
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The Blackhawks were hardly in a safe position entering the third period on Tuesday night, but they were definitely in a familiar one, taking a lead into the final 20 minutes. Even with some hiccups in recent third periods, they still found a way to keep their winning intact.
On Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Lightning had other ideas.
Tyler Johnson scored twice in 30 seconds, part of a four-goal third period for the Lighting as they stormed back to beat the Blackhawks 5-2 on Tuesday night. The Blackhawks remain in second place in the Western Conference, two points behind the Minnesota Wild, who still have three games in hand.
The Blackhawks' three-game winning streak is snapped. The bigger, more impressive number of 78-0-5, the Blackhawks' regular-season record when leading after two periods (dating back to the start of the 2014-15 season), is also done.
In all honesty, that record was going to end at some point. How it ended wasn't so pretty. The Blackhawks, taking a 2-1 lead into the third period, trailed 4-2 just 6:44 into it. Nikita Nesterov, Johnson (twice) and Nikita Kucherov (empty-net goal) inflicted the third-period damage.
"They got a big shot right off the faceoff. Didn't look dangerous, and then they scored two quick goals and now we're behind it against a dangerous team," coach Joel Quenneville said. "We did some good things around the net. We had a lot of scoring chances. We didn't have the finish."
Jonathan Toews did early. The Blackhawks captain had another strong outing, recording a goal and an assist. He was active all night and creating scoring opportunities, especially in the first 40 minutes. But the Lightning were active and aggressive all night and, as Quenneville said, had the finish to go with their chances. Tied 2-2, the Blackhawks were fine. Once Johnson scored his two in 30 seconds — Quenneville wasn't happy with the third goal (Johnson's first) the Blackhawks allowed — the Blackhawks looked stunned.
"It doesn't happy very often," Trevor van Riemsdyk said. "I don't think we were too shell-shocked or whatever you want to say. It takes a little more than that to really do that to us, but obviously we didn't respond the way we wanted to and they got another one there and that was tough. You want to respond a little better right after that first one. The next shift, just put the puck in their end and keep it going that way rather than our end."
On Sunday the Blackhawks squandered a two-goal lead they built entering the third period. They came back to win and extend that impressive when-leading-after-two-periods streak. On Tuesday, they had no answers. Quenneville wasn't in too angry of a mood after this one but considering how good the Blackhawks have always been in third periods, they wanted to be much better in this one.
"We can't be letting games like that slip away," Toews said. "I think the talk for a long time has been starting games a little bit better. I think we've been seeing that.
On Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Lightning had other ideas.
Tyler Johnson scored twice in 30 seconds, part of a four-goal third period for the Lighting as they stormed back to beat the Blackhawks 5-2 on Tuesday night. The Blackhawks remain in second place in the Western Conference, two points behind the Minnesota Wild, who still have three games in hand.
The Blackhawks' three-game winning streak is snapped. The bigger, more impressive number of 78-0-5, the Blackhawks' regular-season record when leading after two periods (dating back to the start of the 2014-15 season), is also done.
In all honesty, that record was going to end at some point. How it ended wasn't so pretty. The Blackhawks, taking a 2-1 lead into the third period, trailed 4-2 just 6:44 into it. Nikita Nesterov, Johnson (twice) and Nikita Kucherov (empty-net goal) inflicted the third-period damage.
"They got a big shot right off the faceoff. Didn't look dangerous, and then they scored two quick goals and now we're behind it against a dangerous team," coach Joel Quenneville said. "We did some good things around the net. We had a lot of scoring chances. We didn't have the finish."
Jonathan Toews did early. The Blackhawks captain had another strong outing, recording a goal and an assist. He was active all night and creating scoring opportunities, especially in the first 40 minutes. But the Lightning were active and aggressive all night and, as Quenneville said, had the finish to go with their chances. Tied 2-2, the Blackhawks were fine. Once Johnson scored his two in 30 seconds — Quenneville wasn't happy with the third goal (Johnson's first) the Blackhawks allowed — the Blackhawks looked stunned.
"It doesn't happy very often," Trevor van Riemsdyk said. "I don't think we were too shell-shocked or whatever you want to say. It takes a little more than that to really do that to us, but obviously we didn't respond the way we wanted to and they got another one there and that was tough. You want to respond a little better right after that first one. The next shift, just put the puck in their end and keep it going that way rather than our end."
On Sunday the Blackhawks squandered a two-goal lead they built entering the third period. They came back to win and extend that impressive when-leading-after-two-periods streak. On Tuesday, they had no answers. Quenneville wasn't in too angry of a mood after this one but considering how good the Blackhawks have always been in third periods, they wanted to be much better in this one.
"We can't be letting games like that slip away," Toews said. "I think the talk for a long time has been starting games a little bit better. I think we've been seeing that.
Obviously if we're in the right spot, we're in the driver's seat going into the third periods with a lead. Whether it's one goal or more than that, we've got to find ways to play better. I think a team like that, especially with their speed, they're going to come hard and the finish wasn't there tonight."
Five things from Blackhawks-Lightning: Underestimating the Lightning.
By Tracey Myers
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
That didn't end well, did it?
Listen, we're as surprised to see this as you all are. The Blackhawks have been automatic for so long when leading after two periods that you just assumed they were going to win those games for the next five years. So much for that.
But time to break this one down. With one game remaining before the All-Star break, let's look at the Five Things to take from the Blackhawks' 5-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
1. A rare loss recorded. When entering the third period with a lead, the Blackhawks were 78-0-5 in regular-season games (dating back to 2014-15) heading into Tuesday night's game. Well, if you're going to snap a great streak, why not do it with a thud? The Blackhawks were just steamrolled in the third period. Yes, they had some quality scoring chances, but Andrei Vasilevskiy was great, making 14 of his 34 stops in the third period. And at the other end — well, you all saw it.
2. Jonathan Toews scores again. There have been a few times this season when, after Toews has a good night, we assume this is going to be the start of a roll for him. This time he might really be onto one. Toews had a goal and two assists and had an outstanding game overall on Tuesday. He was creating whenever he was on the ice, and that included taking a few shifts with Artemi Panarin and Patrick Kane. It's a good sign for Toews, though his mood was tempered by the goals allowed. "It was nice to feel it out there and make plays and be in on a couple goals," he said. "Unfortunately, wasn't good enough defensively tonight, but you want to keep playing the same way I have the last couple of games."
Listen, we're as surprised to see this as you all are. The Blackhawks have been automatic for so long when leading after two periods that you just assumed they were going to win those games for the next five years. So much for that.
But time to break this one down. With one game remaining before the All-Star break, let's look at the Five Things to take from the Blackhawks' 5-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
1. A rare loss recorded. When entering the third period with a lead, the Blackhawks were 78-0-5 in regular-season games (dating back to 2014-15) heading into Tuesday night's game. Well, if you're going to snap a great streak, why not do it with a thud? The Blackhawks were just steamrolled in the third period. Yes, they had some quality scoring chances, but Andrei Vasilevskiy was great, making 14 of his 34 stops in the third period. And at the other end — well, you all saw it.
2. Jonathan Toews scores again. There have been a few times this season when, after Toews has a good night, we assume this is going to be the start of a roll for him. This time he might really be onto one. Toews had a goal and two assists and had an outstanding game overall on Tuesday. He was creating whenever he was on the ice, and that included taking a few shifts with Artemi Panarin and Patrick Kane. It's a good sign for Toews, though his mood was tempered by the goals allowed. "It was nice to feel it out there and make plays and be in on a couple goals," he said. "Unfortunately, wasn't good enough defensively tonight, but you want to keep playing the same way I have the last couple of games."
3. Underestimating the Lightning? That might have happened. The Lightning might be hurt, they might be struggling in goal (except for Tuesday) and they might have a bad record. But that team still has a ton of skill and speed, both of which were on display against the Blackhawks. Coach Joel Quenneville warned about the Lightning still being "an extremely dangerous team." Indeed, the Bolts were.
4. Power play doesn't convert. The Blackhawks are struggling in this department again. They went 0-for-3 on Tuesday and have now gone six games without a power-play goal (0-for-12 in that span). Quenneville's big concern with the power play is if it's lack of scoring leads to a loss of momentum. That didn't happen. But capitalizing on one of those could have changed the complexion of this one.
5. A good start again. Remember when we said that if the Blackhawks would only start well they'd be much better off? Well, that's been hit and miss. The Blackhawks had another good start, this one including a 1-0 lead midway through the first period. But the finish wasn't there.
TSN coaches poll: Wild favored to win West over Blackhawks.
By Charlie Roumeliotis
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The Blackhawks have won three Stanley Cups since 2010, and have eliminated the Minnesota Wild from the playoffs three times from 2013-15.
But it's the Wild that NHL coaches believe will win the Western Conference this season as we approach the trade deadline.
In his annual midseason poll, TSN's Bob McKenzie surveyed 25 of 30 coaches to vote on multiple categories, such as the league's best player and the team most likely to win it all.
According to the survey, 11 coaches predicted the Wild will win the West while the Blackhawks and Sharks tied for second with four votes.
As for winning the Stanley Cup, the Washington Capitals are the favorite, earning 10 votes, followed closely by the reigning champion Pittsburgh Penguins with eight. The Wild and Blackhawks rounded out the poll with three and two votes, respectively.
Joel Quenneville earned one vote as the NHL's best coach, which is three fewer votes than he had last year, despite this year being arguably his most challenging — and best — coaching job since arriving in Chicago, given the youth on the roster.
Extra incentive fuels Tanner Kero in second stint with Blackhawks.
By Tracey Myers
But it's the Wild that NHL coaches believe will win the Western Conference this season as we approach the trade deadline.
In his annual midseason poll, TSN's Bob McKenzie surveyed 25 of 30 coaches to vote on multiple categories, such as the league's best player and the team most likely to win it all.
According to the survey, 11 coaches predicted the Wild will win the West while the Blackhawks and Sharks tied for second with four votes.
As for winning the Stanley Cup, the Washington Capitals are the favorite, earning 10 votes, followed closely by the reigning champion Pittsburgh Penguins with eight. The Wild and Blackhawks rounded out the poll with three and two votes, respectively.
Joel Quenneville earned one vote as the NHL's best coach, which is three fewer votes than he had last year, despite this year being arguably his most challenging — and best — coaching job since arriving in Chicago, given the youth on the roster.
Extra incentive fuels Tanner Kero in second stint with Blackhawks.
By Tracey Myers
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Incentive. For many young prospects trying to latch onto an NHL roster, there's already plenty of it there. It's a chance at playing on a bigger stage, a bigger opportunity for a career and, if you're on a two-way contract, a bigger paycheck.
Tanner Kero already had that incentive but in November, received an even more special one: he and his wife welcomed their first child, a boy. Now when Kero plays, it's not just what it means for him. It's what it means for his family.
"It's been a fun experience. It's something a little extra special that you play for," Kero said. "You get your mind away from the game when you go home. You just relax and enjoy that part of life. It's just something extra to play for and it's been special."
Kero has been making the most of his second shot with the Blackhawks, recording two goals and two assists on the Blackhawks' dads trip. That included a three-point night against the Colorado Avalanche and a building chemistry with line mates Vinnie Hinostroza and Marian Hossa.
Coach Joel Quenneville likes what he's seen thus far.
"He did a great job for us," Quenneville said. "Defensively, we like his availability in his own end. We like his positioning offensively. He had a nice couple of games to finish the dads trip but he's been good for us. I like the consistency."
Rockford coach Ted Dent said Kero started playing better in November, not long after Kero became a dad. Whether or not that had anything to do with it Dent didn't know, but the results were there nonetheless.
"I think he'd be the first to say his season started off slow with us and he finally caught his stride, maybe 15-20 games into our season," Dent said. "He was skating better, skating stronger, he had more confidence with the puck and things just came together."
Kero's line is a good blend of familiarity, defense and skill. Kero and Hinostroza are good friends who played together plenty in Rockford. Hossa is... well, Hossa, and pretty much benefits any line mate.
"It's been good," Kero said. "We've been trying to continue, get some secondary scoring. But we also want to be relied on defensively, be counted on to play in big situations, a defensive draw, at the end of a period or end of a game. We're trying to focus on being good defensively, being simple and hard to play against. We're getting fortunate enough to contribute offensively as well."
Hossa, whose game-winning goal in Boston came off a Kero feed, said the 24-year-old is adapting well.
"Since they called him up he took it to his advantage. Right now he's playing the 200-foot game, [he's] real smart in our zone, doesn't panic, makes the right play at the right time, and he's showing more offensive abilities," Hossa said. "It seems like things are going well for him and we're glad we can help as a third line right now in scoring some important goals. With young players, that's definitely big."
Kero's made an impact and an impression with the Blackhawks. Quenneville said on Sunday that, even when Marcus Kruger returns from his injury, Kero will likely remain where he is – "I don't see too many things that would change his positioning because he really helped himself," Quenneville said.
"That comment tells you the trust level he's gained in Kero," Dent said. "I knew over time that Kero was a player that Q was going to love. I've gotten to know Q over the years and in talking to him I know what he likes in players and it was just a matter of time because Kero's a responsible two-way player. He doesn't cheat the game and he's very aware of his defensive responsibilities and that's what Q loves, first and foremost. A lot of us coaches love that."
Kero is making strides in his second stint with the Blackhawks. He already had plenty of incentive to make an impact on this roster. Now a new father, he has that much more of one.
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