Big chance becomes a big waste for the Blackhawks

That wasnt exactly a disaster, but monumental waste seems to fit the Blackhawks performance Sunday afternoon.

Blown chance. Blown chance. Blown chance.

Ducks goal.

Blown chance. Blown chance. Blown chance.

Ducks goal. Blown chance. Goal. Blown chance. Blown chance. Blown chance.

Ducks goal. Ducks goal. Ducks win Game 1 of the Western Conference finals when they barely had the puck.

The Hawks are faster and more talented than the Ducks, and it showed early and pretty much throughout the game.

The Hawks had the puck, took 70 shots, and controlled of the pace. I mean, it was silly the way the Hawks dominated puck possession.

Their Corsi For was better than twice the Ducks in the first period, starting with an early power play and a glorious chance for Patrick Kane.

The Ducks led 1-0.

The Hawks had the puck nearly 60 percent of the time in the second period.

The Ducks led 2-0 before Brad Richards scored late.

The Hawks were given two power plays almost back-to-back in the third period when they trailed by a goal, but looked awful on the first and couldnt take advantage of the second.

The Ducks scored twice. See ya Tuesday.

The probabilities say the results will change as the series progresses. The best players on the Hawks will beat the best players on the Ducks.

Problem was, the Hawks were beaten by some of the most unknown Ducks.

Hampus Lindholm, anybody?

How about Kyle Palmieri?

Nate Thompson?

They potted the Ducks first three goals.

OK, the Ducks got a bunch of help on the first two goals from the helpless David Rundblad, who was replacing injured defenseman Michal Rozsival.

But still, the Ducks goal scorers point up what a waste this was. The Hawks lost a game in which Ducks stars Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry managed one point.

Combined.

And that was a second assist on an empty-net goal.

Ultimately, however, I dont think the Ducks rope-a-dope will work, even if Anaheim wasnt trying to rope-a-dope. The Ducks are slower than the Hawks, so thats what it turns into.

The one area that the Hawks speed failed them was when Ducks goalie Frderik Andersen offered rebounds. Chances were there, but Hawks snipers were not. Not often enough, anyway.

The Hawks also struggled to get to get traffic in front of Andersen. It doesnt matter how big the Ducks are. The Hawks have to get to the net.

Hawks coach Joel Quenneville played toy soldiersbecause he had to. Searching for scoring, he put Jonathan Toews between Kane and Teuvo Teravainen for one shift. Quenneville switched left wings all over the place hoping someone could find the back of the net.

Nobody after Richards could. I expect that to change. I also hope that we dont look back on this game with regret.

Copyright 2015, Chicago Tribune

Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/rosenblog/ct-blackhawks-duck-western-conference-finals-rosenbloom-20150517-column.html