Blackhawks Stuggle with Middle-Period Momentum as Season Slows Down
For most games this season, the Blackhawks have managed to put together respectable 40 minutes of hockey, a far cry from their struggles last year when they were often down by zero or 20. However, they're still struggling to complete full 60-minute efforts and it's often in the second period that they let themselves down.
The team has been outscored 19-12 in second periods, with a dismal minus-seven goal differential that ranks fourth-worst in the league as of Friday. They've had success in first periods, boasting a plus-seven differential tied for the best mark, and third periods have seen them rank second behind only the Avalanche.
Analytics also point to unsustainable positive differentials in those other two periods. For instance, their scoring-chance ratios stand at 44.3% in first periods, 41.9% in second periods, and 45.5% in third periods – excluding a brief road trip that predated this pattern – those ratios are higher in the latter half of games.
Recently, the Hawks' struggles have intensified, particularly against teams like the Canucks, Red Wings, and Devils in recent weeks. Despite their efforts, they've been dominated in second periods, generating only 13 chances while allowing 44 in those frames, largely thanks to great goaltending.
The team's players and coaches are exploring possible reasons behind this trend. Psychologically, some believe that Blackhawks might be losing momentum after a strong first period, feeling too pleased with themselves and failing to find the next step. Captain Nick Foligno called it "unacceptable" and emphasized the need for readiness for second periods.
Strategically, coach Jeff Blashill suspects that inexperience and specific weaknesses may make the team more susceptible to issues during second periods, particularly due to less-than-ideal line changes after defensive-zone shifts. The so-called "long" line changes become challenging when both benches are on their side of the red line.
Blashill is working on training drills to improve this aspect of their game and has hopes that it will help avoid a never-ending cycle of being stuck in the defensive zone, expending energy, dumping the puck out, and defending more.
For most games this season, the Blackhawks have managed to put together respectable 40 minutes of hockey, a far cry from their struggles last year when they were often down by zero or 20. However, they're still struggling to complete full 60-minute efforts and it's often in the second period that they let themselves down.
The team has been outscored 19-12 in second periods, with a dismal minus-seven goal differential that ranks fourth-worst in the league as of Friday. They've had success in first periods, boasting a plus-seven differential tied for the best mark, and third periods have seen them rank second behind only the Avalanche.
Analytics also point to unsustainable positive differentials in those other two periods. For instance, their scoring-chance ratios stand at 44.3% in first periods, 41.9% in second periods, and 45.5% in third periods – excluding a brief road trip that predated this pattern – those ratios are higher in the latter half of games.
Recently, the Hawks' struggles have intensified, particularly against teams like the Canucks, Red Wings, and Devils in recent weeks. Despite their efforts, they've been dominated in second periods, generating only 13 chances while allowing 44 in those frames, largely thanks to great goaltending.
The team's players and coaches are exploring possible reasons behind this trend. Psychologically, some believe that Blackhawks might be losing momentum after a strong first period, feeling too pleased with themselves and failing to find the next step. Captain Nick Foligno called it "unacceptable" and emphasized the need for readiness for second periods.
Strategically, coach Jeff Blashill suspects that inexperience and specific weaknesses may make the team more susceptible to issues during second periods, particularly due to less-than-ideal line changes after defensive-zone shifts. The so-called "long" line changes become challenging when both benches are on their side of the red line.
Blashill is working on training drills to improve this aspect of their game and has hopes that it will help avoid a never-ending cycle of being stuck in the defensive zone, expending energy, dumping the puck out, and defending more.
they were on fire in the beginning but now they're struggling to close out games 
and it's always that second period where things fall apart 
they need to work on their transition game from first to second period 'cause right now they're getting owned 
maybe coach blashill's drills will help them find that extra gear to finish strong 
. It's like they get too comfortable and forget how to keep pushing forward 
. And it's not just about them, it's also about those long line changes that can leave 'em exposed 
. Maybe they need a shake-up in their system or some fresh legs on the roster? 
I've been binge-watching old episodes and I'm literally hooked again 
Anyway back to hockey... I don't get why they're struggling in the second period, like shouldn't it be all about maintaining momentum and stuff? 
My buddy got tickets to a game next week and he said it's going to be so much fun but also kinda boring if the Hawks don't do well 
. 19-12 is a big difference, they need to be more consistent. Did you see their scoring-chance ratios? 
It's like they're playing two different teams on the ice, first periods are fire 
but second periods are cold ice 
. They're outscoring opponents 44.3% in first periods, but only 41.9% in second periods... what's going on? 
Their goal differential is like a rollercoaster - up and down, can't find stability 
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. Training drills might be the answer 
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️ Interesting how they're struggling with consistency in the middle period, especially against tough teams like Canucks & Red Wings 
. They need to work on those second periods or risk falling behind 
, its like they're stuck on 40 minutes of good hockey and then just fall apart in the second period 
. i get why coach Jeff Blashill is trying to fix the "long" line changes, those can be super tough to deal with. but at the same time, cant captain Nick Foligno just tell his teammates to stay focused after a strong first period? 
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! Seriously though, they're really struggling to keep momentum going past the first 40 minutes of games. It's like they're stuck in neutral, you know? Coach Blashill is on the right track by looking at line changes and drills, but it's gonna take more than just tweaks – maybe a mid-season hockey camp for these guys? 
The Canucks, Red Wings, and Devils have been killing them, and I get why they'd be dominating in the second period. It's like, you're up 2-0, why bother trying to score again? But hey, at least Nick Foligno is speaking truth to power – gotta love a captain who ain't afraid to call out his own team! 
coach blashill shd just stick to what works: dumping puck out and hoping for the best 
. It's like they're stuck in this rut and can't seem to find their rhythm anymore. They were doing so well in the first period, but that second period is where they always fall apart. I get it, though - it's easy to let your guard down after a strong start, especially if you're feeling confident 