NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Coy as usual in the clandestine realm of NHL postseason preparation, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville declined to make any statements about Game 4 changes after practice today. But he let the lineups on the ice do the talking.
There are physical and psychological alterations afoot for the Hawks, all of which will be needed to even the series against the upstart Predators on Thursday and avoid a walk to the precipice of disaster.
The most obvious shifts were working Adam Burish and Bryan Bickell among the top four lines at practice, a good sign that they'll replace Colin Fraser and Ben Eager in Game 4. The rest was about approaching the next game with emotion that was completely absent in a Game 3 loss.
"I felt like we had a good game in Game 2, and we have to show up exactly the same way (in Game 4)," Hawks winger Marian Hossa said. "Last night, for the most part of the game, we got outworked. And it shouldn't happen. We have to regroup and make sure we're coming back home 2-2."
"We'll see, we'll talk about it," Burish said, when asked if he'd get his shot finally in Game 4. "It's the playoffs. It wouldn't be good gamesmanship to tell you now, would it?"
Most likely, the arrangement on the ice Wednesday said everything anyone needed to know about the direction of the lineup. As for the mental approach of that lineup? At this point, who knows.
"Certainly there are things we have to do better going forward," Quenneville said. "The one thing is, if you don't compete the way you have to do be successful, other areas of the game look like you got some problems. We talked about that. We talked about competing. We'll get back to the basics to get us right back into it."
Defenseman Brian Campbell skated yet again Wednesday, but Quenneville curiously refused to address whether he was in or out for Game 4. "I'm not saying anything on that," the Hawks coach said.
Meanwhile, veteran defensemen Brent Seabrook, Duncan Keith and Brent Sopel all got the day off.
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"Hawks better win tomorrow before they go home if not Hawks will be in trouble."
The Hawks are in trouble now. If they lose game 4, the trouble will be over. The dead have no troubles.
stick a fork in the hawks, they're not playing with any intensity.. they sure as hell don't look like a cup-favorite trying to make a run!!
don't get me wrong, i want them to win as much as the next die-hard fan, but they're playing like a bunch of nanny's out there lately.
props for getting burish back in the lineup to provide a little spark, "going forward."
Please tell me the most useless goon on the ice Ballerina Buff is going to sit. This guy has pictures of someone because I still can't figure out why this lazy mope is playing.
Hawks better win tomorrow before they go home if not Hawks will be in trouble.
If Adam Burish is the the answer, the wrong question is being asked. This slug will probably take a stupid penalty or two and contribute more to the Nashville cause than to the Blackhawks.
When Wirtz hired that cubbie clown McDonough it proved all he cares about is marketing the team, & a bunch of overblown hype. Expectations are way down on the list if he's filling the United Center. They'll never win a cup & really don't care if they do. What they want is a bunch of those drunks from Wrigley to fill the UC year after year only to once again see their team not meet up to expectations come playoff time. The Bowman's are in on the racket also, just a big grab the $$ game to them. You poor suckers wasting your hard earned $$ on tickets only to see the Cubhawks gag in the playoffs yet again in the start of what will be a long list of playoff failures. While I'll always be a fan, I'm glad I don't live close enough to be possibly sucked into wasting my $$ making Wirtz, McDonough & the Bowmans a little bit richer.
Uh, how about sending Buyfglien somewhere far, far away where he can't deliver penalty shots wrapped in pretty paper and tied with a ribbon to the Preds? What a jamoke.
Toews and Kane need to be together. If they play together Thursday (even strength and PP) I expect 2 goals from their line. Burish didn't show much when he did get playing time so who knows? Just don't take stupid penalties. Need better center play. Is that why Q is considering moving Sharp back to center? Seeems a little panicky.
Its about time Burish gets some significant minutes.
Ha Ha. Nice one John.
But it ain't over 'til it's over. GO HAWKS !!
But they all took the day off yesterday.