Blackhawks' Struggles Stem From Poor Defensive Play
(WSCR) With 53 games in the books, the Blackhawks are still looking for their first shutout of the season.
And while that stat can't be placed solely on the goaltenders, one NHL expert thinks poor defensive play coupled with average goal tending is making things tough for the 'Hawks.
"It's not all goaltending, but (the Hawks) have average goaltending," Tim Sassone of the Daily Herald told The McNeil and Spiegel Show. "When you have a team that is probably average defensively, you need great goaltending. ... When you make defensive mistakes like the 'Hawks make in positioning and they have some forwards that don't like to get back and help out, you need great goaltending. I hate to lay it all on Corey Crawford's shoulders and Ray Emery's shoulders, but goaltending has been a problem this year."
LISTEN: Tim Sassone on The McNeil and Spiegel Show
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If the season were to end today, the Blackhawks would own the sixth playoff spot in West. Sassone thinks that's exactly where the 'Hawks belong. He said until defensive changes are made, they will continue to struggle.
"It's a problem, the defensive mindset of this team," Sasson said. "This isn't October and November anymore, we're into February, 53 games in. They can talk all they want about turning things around defensively, but you can't really believe it until you see it. It's hard to see any improvement being made."
