We’ve all heard Wayne Gretzky’s famous quote, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Historically, the Chicago Blackhawks have taken Gretzky’s advice to heart and are one of the top four most efficient offenses since 2007 (for a statistical analysis, see my previous article).
What Went Wrong Last Year?
Whispers among internet hockey pundits and enthusiasts will point towards several explanations: age of the core players, the team losing their edge, the coach transition, and etc. However, if you listen closely, the whispers start to form a deafening din: defense.
Anecdotally, the majority of the games I watched seemed to follow a similar theme — the ‘Hawks would grab an early lead only to struggle to keep it in the third period, subsequently falling in overtime.