BLOG: Blackhawks Need to Maintain Puck Awareness Against Oilers

The Blackhawks welcome the Oilers to the United Center for the second time this season looking to change their game around. The last time the two faced off, Chicago ended their four-game winning streak after a 6-5 loss to Edmonton.
For Andreas Athanasiou, he feels they'll be able to keep up with the Oilers after the last time the two played almost a month ago.
"We played stretches of hockey where we played really good against really good teams," Athanasiou said. "So, we know we can play good hockey, we can play with anyone in this league, just like any team can. But it's just kind of a matter of finding ways to win."

Heading into tonight's game, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have been paired up once again with head coach Luke Richardson describing them as "the two most dangerous players in the league." McDavid currently leads the league with 39 points (17G, 22A) through 22 games and recorded a hat trick against the Blackhawks back on Oct. 30.
With both forwards on the ice, Richardson emphasized how much pressure the team needs to apply in order to hold back the two players. Staying on top of the puck and remaining consistent within the offensive zones will be key for the Blackhawks tonight.
"We need to bump them all game long," Richardson said. "Get in front of them, slow them down, even when they don't have the puck and it's hard to do. But if you can do it earlier before they get going it's a lot easier and they get pissed off really. We just got to make sure we're consistent at it for the whole game and making sure we're very mindful what we're doing with the puck."
Patrick Kane also agreed with maintaining puck awareness whenever McDavid and Draisaitl hit the ice especially within their own zones.
He described playing a more patience game against the Oilers and looking out for the next player. When they are out on the ice Kane feels like they are playing against two lines instead of one.
"When you watch them when they play together, they really don't get beat on too many shifts," Kane said. "It seems like they always have the puck, they're always in the offensive end, so probably more of a patient game against them."
The trouble that the Blackhawks have been having lately that they will also have to watch tonight is with turnovers. In the last few games, the team has had many turnovers along the team's blue line that they hope will be cleaned up tonight.
Richardson believes that if the team can play to their strength of staying strong with the puck in the neutral zone, then they can avoid turnover situations.
"For us, when we have the puck, we have to be stronger on it and not give the other team like Edmonton freebies and on turnovers and turn the offense up against us," Richardson said.