If you’ve spent much time studying psychology and memory biases, you’ve probably come across something called the serial position effect, which is a person’s tendency to recall what happens at the beginning and end of a sequence much better than what happened in the middle. In the mind, a positive conclusion can help mask what was an overall so-so experience. That all brings us to Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Chicago Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night.
The Lightning kept the Hawks at bay for much of Wednesday’s Game 1, and the Hawks had mustered just 13 shots through two periods. But with Tampa Bay going into a shell late, the Blackhawks struck twice in less than two minutes to put the passive Lightning on their collective backs and steal a Game 1 victory. It’s been all rainbows and sunshine in Chicago in the 48 hours since, as we fondly recall Teuvo and Antoine Vermette making their previous benchings all the more preposterous. Leaving the building victorious is all that matters, yes, but for the Blackhawks to return to Chicago with a 2-0 series lead, they’re going to have to play a better game Saturday.
As for who will be doing the playing, there’s a bit of intrigue surrounding the Hawks’ lineup. According to Joel Quenneville, Trevor van Riemsdyk is available for Saturday night’s game, but seldom-used Kyle Cumiskey and David Rundblad will likely remain in the lineup. Rightfully so. It’s a low bar, but they haven’t really been noticed the last few games in the little ice time they’ve gotten, and that’s good enough for this team.
Bryan Bickell’s Game 2 status is to be determined, as he appears to have a head injury — or something close to it — that’s keeping him sidelined. In his absence in Game 2, Kris Versteeg played a controlled game, and had the highest CF% on the Hawks. His speed makes him a better fit in the lineup against Tampa Bay than it would’ve against Anaheim. Maybe just avoid smashing into the post again, Steeger?
So now that the disclaimers are out of the way …
The Lightning kept the Blackhawks in check much of Wednesday night. Valtteri Filppula dominated Jonathan Toews at the dot. Toews and Patrick Kane were both kept quiet, and Toews had a pretty awful 38.2 percent score-adjusted Corsi. The Hawks botched all three attempts on the power play. And yet they still won.
Does anyone really think Kane and Toews will be non-factors two games in a row?
Here are the Hawks’ projected lines for the game:
Saad-Toews-Kane
Versteeg-Richards-Hossa
Sharp-Vermette-Teravainen
Desjardins-Kruger-Shaw
The defensive pairings should look the same barring the inclusion of van Riemsdyk in the lineup and Corey Crawford will start after a brief scare Saturday when Scott Darling came out for morning skate. Crow is fine, though, and will be in net for Game 2.
Opponent Breakdown: Tampa Bay Lightning
Remember in 2013 when the Blackhawks took Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final in triple-OT and there was no way the Bruins could possibly recover from such a tough loss? And then they came right back and won Game 2? Yeah … losing Game 1 the way the Bolts did on Wednesday night had to hurt, but momentum carrying over between games in the NHL playoffs is about as real as Teuvo’s playoff beard.
The Lightning have displayed an impressive resiliency throughout the playoffs — overcoming a 3-2 series deficit to eliminate the Red Wings in Round 1 then shutting out the Rangers in Madison Square Garden in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals after a 7-3 thumping by the Rangers in Game 6 had everyone and their uncles leaving the Lightning for dead.
We’re going to see what this team is made of Saturday night, as heading to Chicago in a 2-0 hole is not exactly synonymous with “desirable” for Tampa Bay. They were the better team through two periods on Wednesday night, and had they not backed off the gas pedal, perhaps they’re the ones looking to take a 2-0 series lead.
According to reports, Jonathan Drouin is likely back in the lineup for Tampa Bay. The prized teen played 70 regular season games but has been a scratch for all but three postseason affairs. The skilled youngster’s return slightly narrows the Blackhawks’ edge in the depth department.
Tampa Bay dressed 11 forwards and seven defensemen in Game 1, so the addition of Drouin would bump one of the defensemen to the bench. It’s hard to project how Jon Cooper might put his lines together with Drouin in, but here were the lines without him:
Killorn-Filppula-Stamkos
Palat-Johnson-Kucherov
Brown-Paquette-Callahan
Marchessault-Boyle-Morrow
Drouin would likely take a spot on the fourth line.
Game Information
When: 6:15 p.m. CT
Where: Amalie Arena
TV: NBC
Radio: WGN-720