Chicago Blackhawks: Seven Things To Remember for December

After a shaky first twenty games, the Chicago Blackhawks appears to have started to find their groove.  Coming off a 4-2 swing out west, ESPN.com has them fourth in the league in their latest power rankings.

Now it's time to justify that ranking on the ice.

Starting Tuesday, the Hawks have ten out of their next thirteen games at United Center.  From now until the end of 2010, every opponent is a conference foe.  Five are divisional games.  All are of the utmost importance for a team looking to prove that they are better than their current record of 13-11-2.

Simply put, it's time to go on a run.

This is prime time to make up ground in the Western Conference, where our positioning is a bit misleading.  Yes, Chicago is fifth in points right now.  In reality, the Hawks are probably toward the bottom of the conference once everyone else equals our number of games played.

Treading water during this home-friendly December schedule is not acceptable.  The Blackhawks need nine or ten victories to climb back into conference contention.

“You have to remember what you did in those wins,” defenseman Brian Campbell said about continuing the current trend.

Consider these post-it notes for the Blackhawks' locker room.  Here's how to get those nine or ten wins.

1. Remember To Reclaim The Madhouse

The Blackhawks have four and five-game home stands sandwiched around a two game jaunt to San Jose and Colorado.  No back to backs, providing time for healing and rest.  Every game is an opportunity to make up ground.

The book on Chicago is that the players get in front of the home crowd and try to impress them with fancy play.  This team should know by now that we will take wins over style any day.  Keep it simple.  Stick to what worked on the road.  Shooting the puck, crashing the net, puck control. 

Despite the troubles at home, the Blackhawks' special teams are actually better at home.  Let's hope that continues.

The Blackhawks have four return engagements with Circus Trip opponents.  Remember what worked so well in the victories at Vancouver and Los Angeles.  Remember to take care of the puck to avoid another loss to the Sharks.

It also might be a good idea to remember to show up for the Calgary rematch.  It's the lone blemish on the last two weeks.  Put our fears to rest and send the Flames out of town with a loss.

Chicago is currently 5-7 at home.  It's time to re-establish home ice. 

2. Remember Your Division Opponents

Again, considering the difference in games played, we're better off approaching the next month as if we are looking up at each of our Central Division counterparts.

Keeping our current streak going against the Blues tonight would be a nice way to start this home stand.  We then get each team in the division once, with just road game, a December 28th trip to St. Louis.

Detroit looms large when they come to town on the 17th.  They currently sit atop the conference.  A home win is essential if we want to close the gap.

3. Remember The Rockford Pipeline

Add a practice collision between Nick Boynton and Marian Hossa to Fernando Pisani's upper body injury.  This equates to a health concern.  Hossa and Pisani are day to day at this point, but Pisani didn't play Saturday in L.A.  Hossa was helped from the ice Monday after colliding with Boynton and his status for Tuesday is still unknown.

The Icehogs have had their own problems in AHL play this season, but have had several players come up and fill out the roster this year with the Hawks.

If both Pisani and Hossa are out Tuesday, look for Ryan Potulny, Jeremy Morin, or Jeff Taffe to fill in for a few days. 

Here's how I'd see the lines if Pisani and Hossa are out:

Stalberg-Toews-Kane

Morin-Sharp-Brouwer

Kopecky-Bolland-Bickell

Skille-Dowell-Potulny

4. Remember The Circus Trip

There was a lot of growth and a lot of lessons learned on the two week road trip.  Time to show the home fans the improved product on the ice.

A lot of us have been calling out Troy Brouwer to step up his game, and he has been more physical lately.  His two goals against the Canucks and Kings were pure highlight material.  Brouwer had three of his four goals this year on the circus trip.  If we start a man or two down this week, Brouwer has a chance to pick up the slack.  Time to shine, Troy.

Corey Crawford turned in a great back to back performance, getting two wins to close the road trip.  He is set to start in goal against the Blues.  Don't be surprised if Quenneville gives him six or more starts this month.

While I'm handing out praise, I have to give some props to John Scott.  If Scott can pin someone to the boards and wail on him in front of the guys' home crowd just once a week, well...he still can't skate, but he does what he does well.

If these guys can remember the feeling (and I'll bet Kevin Westgarth does), and Stalberg remembers the feeling of putting the puck in the net (he was pointless on the road trip),  the Blackhawks can start collecting wins in bunches.

5. Remember That Defense Changes Everything For Us

Team defense has started to come around, but everyone needs to continue to pitch in.  I like that Coach Joel Quenneville reunited his top four blue liners over the weekend.  The defensive effort is beginning to pay off at the other end of the ice.

Boynton and Jassen Cullimore have performed well for what they are, which are minimum-salary veterans.  They are going to have moments where their limitations are exposed.  Consider the following:

1.  Apparently, the coaching staff has no confidence in Jordan Hendry. (On a side note, Hendry has played in just 11 of 26 games.  Why did we resign him if we had no intention of playing him?  Couldn't that salary have been used to bring in a guy who plays?)

2.  Nick Leddy is probably not going to be brought up this season because I think it's apparent that management wants to pick up an extra year on his contract.

3.  Aside from Leddy, the Rockford options are Garnet Exelby (another minimum-salary vet), Brian Connelly (1G, 13 A, -2, moves the puck pretty well but lacks size), and Shawn LaLonde (not ready).  Boynton and Cullimore would be Rockford's top defensive pairing.

4.  The most we could trade for (if we could even swing a deal), would be another minimum salary player.

As much as some would like to see a change on the third line defense (personally, I'd like to see them give Connelly a shot and see how he handles big NHL forwards), I don't see the Hawks willing or able to make a move in that area.

For now, cross your fingers and hope Boynton remembers to pass to team mates instead of opponents.

6. Remember Jack And Jake, Please

Jack Skille and Jake Dowell have been playing real well on the fourth line this season, despite being saddled with Scott Saturday.

If Fernando Pisani and/or Hossa are going to miss any length of time with injury, please bring up some forwards who can skate (Potulny, Morin, Taffe, Igor Makarov) and put one of them with these guys.  This would be a great time to give this line an extra three or four minutes a game.

7. Remember What's At Stake This Month

The Hawks can't win a playoff spot in December, but they sure could lose one.

This is a key stretch of the season for Chicago.  It's all right to walk a little taller after winning five of the last seven games.  Most of us are off the ledge, but we haven't shut the window just yet.

Just remember what's riding on your performance this month.

Another run at home like last month puts our playoff chances in severe jeopardy.  The next thirteen games are where the season turns.  After the new year, we'll either be in the thick of the race, or out of contention.

This is what the Blackhawks need to remember in December.  Let's hope Chicago makes it a December to remember.

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/528928-chicago-blackhawks-seven-things-to-remember-for-december

Brittany Daniel Brittany Lee Brittany Murphy Brittany Snow Brittny Gastineau