Blackhawks players went from talking about confidence being shaken to defeating the defending Stanley Cup champs.
Teuvo Teravainen went from talking about how the team is struggling with confidence to scoring a power-play goal in the Chicago Blackhawks’ two-goal victory against the defending Stanley Cup champions, Florida Panthers.
That is the emotional swings this team has had in a season were the standards were supposed to be raised.
The Hawks have gone from a bottom moment when they lost to the Anaheim Ducks to a major high by defeating the Panthers.
Two reasons for these swings have been inconsistent efforts throughout an entire game and an offensive attack that is struggling to score goals.
What usually helps get the Hawks a victory when dealing with those two problems is how many goals Petr Mrazek gives up. If the netminder allows his typical two to four goals, then winning becomes difficult. This is not a knock on Mrazek, as he is a solid goalie who gives the team a shot to win every night.
The problem is scoring goals has become difficult on most nights. Therefore, the Hawks needed Mrazek to have nights like he did last night when he blocked 32 of 33 shots.
new win item unlocked 🔓 pic.twitter.com/vtS3n00LDD
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) November 22, 2024
The confidence problem will continue to rear its ugly head if the team does not find a way to take the good vibes from this victory and do something with it.
Huge win by the Chicago Blackhawks against the defending champs on Thursday.
Here’s captain Nick Foligno on the state of the team and how they can keep the good vibes going. pic.twitter.com/tNAdB8x7ZL
— Emily Kaplan (@emilymkaplan) November 22, 2024
Constantly shaking up the lines has also been hampering the offense to get something consistently going. Maybe having the old guys like Nick Foligno, Craig Smith, and Patrick Maroon skating together can spark the offense like it did when those three combine for the game-winning goal.
Really, Captain Nick just thinks the club must stop making so many errors.
"It wasn't perfect. It never really is, but it's just you're not making blatant errors and taking the life out of your own game. I think that's where we were better tonight."
–Nick Foligno on the Blackhawks' 3-1 against the Panthers pic.twitter.com/c3cTj0YyPB
— Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) November 22, 2024
Figuring out who should skate with Connor Bedard consistently might be able to help him get out of his sophomore slump. At least, he did the little things right against the Panthers to spring a power-play goal.
Yet again, the Blackhawks had just one power play tonight — their fourth straight game with just one. But at least they converted it.
Richardson: “Teuvo carrying it up and over, and Connor seeing that and switching sides, that relieved a little pressure and it led us to make…
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) November 22, 2024
Performing more like how they did against Florida can put a stop to these emotional swings. It at least put a stop to a frustrating three-game losing streak.
