Anders Sorensen’s challenge when named Chicago Blackhawks interim coach was altering a struggling team while having little practice time.

Sorensen had one practice before having to coach his first game. The Blackhawks went on a three-game trip. They played again at home Sunday. So far, Sorensen has had five games and four practices. This week won’t be much easier with four games in seven days on the Blackhawks’ schedule.

All of that is not ideal for a first-time NHL coach who was promoted in-season to coach a last-place team. It’d be unfair to completely judge what Sorensen has implemented so far and what changes have shown up on the ice. But after five games, we’re starting to get a glimpse of what he’s out to do.

Through data, video and some context, here is what we’ve learned about the Blackhawks under Sorensen so far.

The major system change Sorensen made after replacing Luke Richardson was on their forecheck. Richardson played a more passive and conventional 1-2-2. Richardson sought to make the Blackhawks less vulnerable to odd-man rushes and play to his veteran defensemen’s strengths. While it accomplished that, it also diminished the team’s offense.

Sorensen changed that forecheck system on his first day. It’s been described as a 2-1-2, but it’s more of a 2-3 or a 1-1-3 depending on whether the F2 can join the F1 on the forecheck quick enough. With that, Sorensen is out to create more havoc in the first layer of the Blackhawks’ forecheck, forcing turnovers and creating offense.

Here are a few examples of what the Blackhawks are trying to do in the system. This sequence is coming off a change for the Blackhawks, so the F2 shows up later than usual. Ilya Mikheyev, the F1 here, and Jason Dickinson, the F2, have been two of the better forwards at executing Sorensen’s forecheck. Dickinson leads the Blackhawks with 11 forecheck pressures over the five games, based on Corey Sznajder’s tracking data.

The Blackhawks’ second line of Taylor Hall, Frank Nazar and Tyler Bertuzzi has shown promise too in the system. Bertuzzi has looked like a different player lately and has been more engaged. Sznajder has tracked Bertuzzi for 13 scoring chances with the next highest player having six. Hall and Nazar’s speed can be assets. On this play, Nazar is in first on the forecheck. Bertuzzi is there for the loose puck and nearly connects with Hall at the net. Nazar is there for a rebound chance, too.

This is an example of Dickinson’s line from the New York Rangers game:

Hockey consultant and former AHL coach Jack Han provided some context to Sorensen’s system.

“The obvious benefit to playing a more aggressive forecheck is that the forwards will be better able to force turnovers in the offensive zone,” Han said. “A secondary effect is that the D’s will need to get farther up ice in order to close the space. This can be a double-edged sword but Chicago’s younger D’s will benefit from being tighter to the play and being able to kill counterattacks with their skating and stick work.”

With their new forecheck, the Blackhawks are forcing more failed exits than they were under Richardson. Over the five games, the Blackhawks have forced 22 percent failed exits compared with 19 percent when Richardson was coaching, according to Sznajder’s data.

How the Blackhawks use their defensemen has also changed under Sorensen. It’s no longer about thinking get back to defend. It’s more about moving up, killing plays earlier and being engaged in the offense. Those principles seem to really benefit the Blackhawks’ young defensemen who can skate and have experience with Sorensen in Rockford.

Nolan Allan has played better since the coaching change. Alex Vlasic has elevated his game. Kevin Korchinski was called up and he’s fit right in. Wyatt Kaiser was a healthy scratch last game, but Sorensen has worked with him through his struggles before.

On this play, Allan (42) and Connor Murphy (5) are looking for opportunities to get involved in the offensive zone and aren’t just prepping the entire time for a counterattack.

Here is a play where Korchinski uses his skating to get up in the play to get a scoring chance and flies back to defend the counter. Korchinski has 10 shot contributions off the rush in four games, according to Sznajder’s data. Seth Jones was the leader under Richardson this season and only had 31.

Overall, the defense has been solid exiting the zone, too. TJ Brodie is the only defenseman with more than turnovers than exits with possession, per Sznajder’s data. It’s another area Allan has flourished in since the coaching change.

Sorensen is also asking more from his centers. He wants them to be more layered and to be ready to scoop pucks and then move it to the middle of the ice for exits. With Bedard, Nazar and Lukas Reichel as three of the Blackhawks’ centers right now, there’s a lot of youth down the middle.

“There will be growing pains for Bedard and Nazar playing low in the defensive zone, but it’s a worthwhile investment for Chicago to make,” Han said. “If all goes well the team will have two centers who can use their anticipation to force turnovers down low, then sprint the middle to create chances off the rush.”

Here’s an example of Bedard playing low:

Nazar seems to make some of the better defensive reads among the young centers. On this play, he’s aware TJ Brodie (78) is being aggressive to the puck carrier and is in position to intercept the pass and exit the puck.

Finally, here is one of Reichel. His defensive routes can be erratic, but he has improved on being more predictable. He’s also become more aggressive in hunting pucks.

Reichel and Nazar have been doing a better job of staying low than Bedard. He’s often playing higher in the zone, almost like a winger. That is helping some of his recent offensive rush numbers.

Bedard is looking more and more like we expect him to.

He did this.

He scored this.

He passed this.

How much of that is Sorensen? How much is that Bedard? As Bedard said Sunday, probably a bit of both.

It is Bedard’s ability, but it’s also been Sorensen’s use of him and pulling that skill out of him again. Bedard’s offensive slump did a number on his confidence in a way he probably hasn’t ever faced before. He stopped shooting. He stopped being aggressive. He stopped trying things. He stopped doing everything that makes him unique.

Now Bedard is back doing all that, and it’s easy to gauge based on his production. He has two goals and five assists in the last five games. His offensive entries are up again and he’s creating for his teammates more; he’s averaging 4-5 entries a game with an 80 percent carry rate and is tied with Hall with 12 primary shot assists, according to Sznajder’s data.

Sorensen has helped build that confidence again. Some of it has been their private one-on-one conversations, but it’s also been Sorensen trying to empower Bedard. He hasn’t shied away from allowing Bedard to play against other top lines. Against the New Jersey Devils, Bedard went right up against Jack Hughes for a lot of the game, and Bedard got the better of him. With Hughes and Bedard on the ice in five-on-five play, the Blackhawks had a 69.75 expected goals percentage. The Devils moved Hughes’ line away from Bedard as the game went on.

Sorensen has also tried to provide Bedard with stability in his linemates. Bedard worked well with Philipp Kurashev last season, and though that hasn’t clicked this season, Sorensen sought to give that combination a long enough look under his own eyes. Five games in, Kurashev and Bedard haven’t revitalized their chemistry. Come Tuesday’s game, it wouldn’t be surprising if Bedard and Kurashev are split up.