Chicago Blackhawks Youth Shows in Game Four

For the first time in the Stanley Cup playoffs the Chicago Blackhawks looked like the young inexperienced team that everyone thought they were entering the playoffs. The Red Wings unrelenting attack and experience wore on they inexperience.

The two players that showed their youth the most in game four were Ben Eager and Kris Versteeg, Eager's frustration was to be expected as his role on the team is to be an agitator but Versteeg had no reason to put his team in a bad situation.

Versteeg took two back to back penalties in the 2nd period which resulted in a Detroit Red Wings goal and placed the game out of reach.

Although the series is not over between these two Original 6 franchises, the Blackhawks will need to show more mental fortitude and resilience if they want to make a come back against the defending champion Red Wings

Magical Stanley Cup Run Continues for the Blackhawks

On October 10 no one could have envisioned that the Chicago Blackhawks would be fighting the Western division crown against the Detroit Red Wings but here we stand on May 14 and the Chicago Blackhawks are in the Western Conference finals.

Entering the playoffs many had believed the Blackhawks were too young, too inexperienced and too soft but they have proven that inexperience might be the best weapon entering the playoffs.

This young Blackhawks team does not realize that they shouldn't be beating the experienced teams like the Calgary Flames or the best goal tender in the world Roberto Luongo.

Now entering the Western Conference finals the Blackhawks will face their greatest challenge yet, defeating the defending Champion Detroit Red Wings.

Early in the season the Red Wings had the Blackhawks number winning the first four meetings, including the Winter Classic at Wrigley Field but at the end of the season the tides seemed to have change.

In the final two meetings between these two Original Six franchises the Blackhawks had the upper hand winning the two meetings by a combined score of 7-2 but that was the regular season this is the playoffs.

The Blackhawks enter their series as one of the hottest teams remaining in the playoffs having won three straight games and the only team remaining in the playoffs that has not seen a game seven.

The Red Wings on the other hand had all they could handle with the Anaheim Ducks as their series was taken to seven games. The Blackhawks are a far different team than the Ducks in the regard that the 'Hawks are a team that uses speed to their advantage and play a similar style to the Detroit Red Wings.

For the Blackhawks to compete and hopefully beat the Red Wings they will need to do what they did to Roberto Luongo, get traffic in front of him and put plenty of shots on net. The 'Hawks will also need to rely on Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook once again to shut down the Red Wings top line and provide some offense as well.

Players to Watch

Dustin Byfuglien - Forward

Byfuglien was a force for the Blackhawks on the score sheet and on the boards during the Canucks series. He made life miserable for Roberto Luongo and seemed to be in his head towards the end of the series. This trend must carry over into the Detroit series as Byfuglien will be facing the playoff experienced Chris Osgood.

The points are not the most important thing for Byfuglien in the series rather he must be a physical precense and place himself in front of Osgood at all times. If he does this he will help his linemates Kris Versteeg and Samuel Pahlsson get some good scoring chances.

Cam Barker - Defense

Barker was a big point producer for the Blackhawks in the Calgary series but his point production was pretty much absent in the Vancouver series as he only recorded one point in the six game series.

Although the Blackhawks were able to beat the Canucks without Barker's point production they will need his powerful shot from the point to awaken the Blackhawks power play and take advantage of Red Wing penalties