Getty Images
After beating the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of the 2015 Stanley Cup Final, I think many people were already engraving the Chicago Blackhawks‘ names on the Stanley Cup. They had stolen home-ice advantage, taken a 1-0 series lead and had all the experience on their side. But the Lightning stormed back to win Game 2 and reclaimed home ice with an impressive 3-2 victory in Game 3 on Monday night at the United Center.
The Lightning showed that they should not be taken lightly and that they were not going to go quietly in this series. They have positioned themselves to now take a stranglehold on this series in Game 4 with the chance to go up 3-1.
One thing we have learned about this Blackhawks team is that they will not panic. They have been in this position before, and if it’s possible for a team to be comfortable trailing in the Stanley Cup Final two games to one, the Blackhawks would be that team.
The last time the Blackhawks were in the Cup Final was in 2013 when they defeated the Boston Bruins. They won that series in six games and were not fazed when they trailed two games to one before reeling off three straight victories.
The Hawks know how to finish. They know how to play when their backs are against the wall. There is no better stat to prove that than this one. Since Joel Quenneville has taken over as Chicago’s head coach, they are 30-30 during the Stanley Cup playoffs in Games 1-3. So there is really no better chance that the Hawks would be up 2-1 or down 2-1 in any series during that stretch. What is far more impressive is their record in Games 4-7. The Hawks sit with a 40-17 record in those games during this stretch. Their winning percentage rises from a very pedestrian 50 percent early in series to a superhuman 70 percent in the back half of the series.
Even if the Blackhawks drop Game 4 and trail in the series 3-1, winning three straight, although challenging, would not be impossible for this team. The Hawks proved that when they defeated a very good Detroit Red Wings team in 2013 after falling behind 3-1 in the series. In that particular example, the Blackhawks had two of the last three at home, but certainly winning on the road is something the Blackhawks have proven quite capable of doing, winning a Game 7 in Anaheim just last series.
The Blackhawks know it won’t be easy, as do the Lightning. No one expected the Lightning to be up two games to one after watching Game 1, but as the cliche goes, that’s why they play the games. This is setting up to be a great series, so relax, kick your feet up and enjoy it. After all, you know the Blackhawks will.
Bill Zimmerman is a featured writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter or like him on Facebook.
