One Line is generating the majority of the offense for the Blackhawks tonight vs Utah
The Chicago Blackhawks are currently down 2-0 in their season opener against Clayton Keller and the Utah Hockey Club.
It's been a dismal performance tonight, as they have given up two goals early and Connor Bedard seems to have been a ghost tonight.
We're 13:57 in the second period and we're seeing the 2nd line driving the majority of the offense tonight, as they have been having trouble on the forecheck tonight.
Taylor Hall and Philip Kurashev have two shots on goal combined, whereas, in the 1st period, the Blackhawks were limited to 6 shots on goal for the entire period.
As the 2nd period has seen the team gain some life and wheels on the ice thanks to Kurashev, with Taylor Hall having instead found their way into the dirty areas on the ice, instead of limiting their offense to the perimeter, where they had found it in the 1st period.
If the Blackhawks are to make a comeback, now 3-0 as of 11:14 they will have to not only shut down the Utah Hockey Clubs' wheels, and find a way to pressure the Utah HC in their own zone.
And all of that hard work earlier was done by Kurashev and the Hawks.
Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks shouldn't waste the little momentum they have built up in the 2nd period only to let it slide as Barrett Hayton scored against Petr Mrazek.
It seems that Ilya Mikeheyev, Connor Bedard, and Teuvo Teraveinen may be a line that is ultimately not a driver of offense, and perhaps Luke Richardson should consider shifting him down and putting Taylor Hall back on the other line.
In the meantime, Luke Richardson will have to worry about Clayton Keller and the Utah HC offense if they're to win this game tonight.
