Blackhawks Eager for Game 3

Late lift off from Chicago is par for the course this series

Just another late start for the Blackhawks.

As head coach Joel Quenneville was telling the gathered media before taking off for Vancouver, British Columbia fast starts are important in this series with the Canucks.  But the Hawks' struggles in that area included just getting off the ground.

Apparently Ben Eager and a few other Blackhawk players forgot their passports and had to turn around and head back into the city before returning to O'Hare Field. 

Nothing new, this is a team that is making a habit of late starts.

"It seems like the past two years," defenseman Brian Campbell acknowledged of the team's struggles in opening periods and games of the 2009 and 2010 post seasons.

"We'd like to get off to a faster start," said Coach Joel Quenneville.

Doing so would open up their game and allow the team to play fast.   Still there is something to playing from behind. 

The Blackhawks are noticing their opponents losing steam late in the game, while those wearing the Indian Head sweater still have a lot in the tank.

A game plan of physical play and fore checking early on may just be the key.  How do they know? 

When Eager and Adam Burish "snowed" goalie Roberto Luongo in game two, it fired up their teammates and may have unlocked the key to getting in the goaltender's grill.

"You can't run into the goaltender," explained Campbell with a smirk. 

The Western Conference semifinals are tied, but the Blackhawks may have the mental edge.

Game 3 is Wednesday in Vancouver.

Contact Us