The Chicago Blackhawks have struggled to score this season consistently, so pressure then falls on the defensive side of the puck for the team to get wins.
The Blackhawks are tied in last in the NHL with 15 points in 20 games and have just seven wins this season. The team has scored 2.35 goals per game which ranks 30th in the NHL while on the other side of the puck, rank 13th in goals against per game with 3 on the dot.
This is a huge difference as Chicago ranked 29th in goals against per game last season with 3.52. The goalies, defense, and forwards helping out on the defensive side of the puck have done their job, but there’s only a certain amount the Blackhawks goalies can actually do.
When Petr Mrazek was asked if the team is going to get a win, does he enjoy the pressure that’s on him to perform, he said, “Well we just have to play smart defensively and get the pucks out there and hoping for the best thing in the offensive zone. The defense, myself, and Soderblom, we are there to stop the puck and whatever happens in front happens.”
At a certain point, Mrazek and the team have to expect more from the offense that was bolstered this off-season as no team is getting into playoffs with so few goals scored.
Mrazek is known for strong play in the NHL no matter which team he has played for. He performed very well for the Blackhawks last season and is playing even better this season. The veteran goalie has a 2.66 GAA and .911 SV% while the backup, Arvid Soderblom, has a 2.36 GAA and .926 SV%.
The Blackhawks could realistically be right in the mix for a playoff spot if the majority of the players weren’t struggling to score. Some of that comes down to chemistry since there were so many new injections, but the entirety of the struggles can’t be blamed on that. At a certain point, the Blackhawks and the goaltenders need some scoring support as these performances in net are going to waste the majority of nights.
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While speaking on the big win over the Florida Panthers, Mrazek also stated, “That’s a huge part of the game. Penalty kill and power play, and we got it done tonight.” There have been improvements in both from last season and it is now respectable and not hindering the team every time they are killing a penalty.
The hope is that Mrazek, Soderblom, and the rest of the team can continue shutting down the opposing offenses for the most part all season while the Blackhawks figure out how to score at a rate that can help win hockey games.
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