Emma: Blackhawks' Skill, Discipline Can Counter Any Style
By Chris Emma-
CHICAGO (CBS) -- On paper, the Blackhawks face their most dangerous duel of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in these Anaheim Ducks.
In this Western Conference Final, the Ducks will come at the Blackhawks with an aggressive forecheck -- bringing two, sometimes three to the puck -- and they can dazzle in the open ice with the spectacular skill of Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf.
So how do the Blackhawks counter their their foe?
"We want to establish our tempo, our speed and be successful with that," Chicago forward Antoine Vermette said.
OK, then.
Really, it's that simple. The Blackhawks have been hockey's best team since 2008 because of that.
Chicago faced a hostile road venue and division rival in Nashville that provided a challenge in the first round. The Blackhawks won in six games. Chicago squared off with a Minnesota squad that plays disciplined defense and boasted the red-hot Devan Dubnyk in net in the second round. The Blackhawks swept.
Next up is Anaheim, which presents a different style of play. But catching a pattern here?
"We just play the same way, all the time," Chicago winger Patrick Kane said.
Every series, the questions emerge as these matchups are put under the microscope.
How can the Blackhawks beat Pekka Rinne? Will the Blackhawks struggle against the Wild defense?
Chicago coach Joel Quenneville makes minor adjustments to counter. He went with speed to beat Nashville, stuck a body in front of Dubnyk and, in the case of the Anaheim series, he will put an extra man near the puck to counter the forecheck. Checking is the most important emphasis against the Ducks.
However, Quenneville will never, ever change the formula of what has made the Blackhawks successful.
"We like to play our game with an awareness of what our opponent is doing," Quenneville said.
Simply put, the Blackhawks game is winning with puck possession on offense, sound positioning on defense and letting their talent shine while Corey Crawford does the rest. If Chicago can maintain the puck in the offensive zone -- as it has for years -- and count on veterans like Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook against Perry and Getzlaf, then Quenneville can sleep well entering Sunday's Game 1 in Anaheim, jet lag aside.
These Blackhawks have proved they can win, no matter what style they're facing.
"This team is extremely dangerous with the puck, they have a lot of skill, have a very active defense, they can score a number of ways," Quenneville said of his Blackhawks.
Chicago also boasts any needed intangibles after years of big playoff games. Yes, the Blackhawks can handle a raucous road crowd. They will also manage the nine-day layoff between games without a worry of the momentum falsehood.
No certain style or hot goaltender can beat the Blackhawks alone, because they have hockey's best core, depth filled with versatility and talent, plus a style of play that has won two title and may just win a third.
"Really," winger Kris Versteeg said, "just worry about ourselves."
There are few external worries to be had for the Blackhawks, because they have what it takes to beat anybody.
Follow Chris on Twitter @CEmma670.
