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CHICAGO -- Chicago Blackhawks rookie forward Brandon Saad is hoping for No. 11 to be his lucky number again.

Saad scored his first career NHL goal in his 11th regular season game. Now entering his 11th NHL playoff game, he and the Blackhawks are looking for him to notch his first career playoff goal.

Despite Saad's playoff scoring drought, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville has spoken highly of Saad's recent play. Saad struggled in the opening-round series with the Minnesota Wild, but he's rediscovered his form and has been creating chances in faster-paced games against the Detroit Red Wings.

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CHICAGO -- Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford said Wednesday he has to play better against the Detroit Red Wings despite the continued vote of confidence from coach Joel Quenneville.

Crawford made 26 saves in a 4-1 loss to the Red Wings in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series on Saturday and 27 saves in Monday's 3-1 loss in Game 3. The Red Wings lead the series 2-1 with Game 4 coming in Detroit on Thursday.

Quenneville has been firm in his confidence for Crawford in recent days and hasn't said he deserves any blame for the defeats.

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In 2011, knowing they wouldn't be able to keep Ilya Bryzgalov, the Phoenix Coyotes prepared a list of replacements. Mike Smith, then with the Tampa Bay Lightning, was at the top. They loved his size, how he battled and his ability to play the puck. Because of their time together in Dallas, Dave Tippett knew he'd be a great fit.

That year, Smith struggled with Tampa during the regular season with an .899 save percentage and 2.90 goals-against average but for the Coyotes, that didn't matter. They knew what they were getting and a down year only meant he came cheaper.

Then came the playoffs.

The Lightning made an unexpected run to the Eastern Conference finals and Smith started getting playoff time spelling starter Dwayne Roloson that showed his confidence was back and just how good he could play in pressure situations. That postseason, Smith played three games, with a save percentage of .958. He allowed just two goals on 48 shots.

The Coyotes started to fear that Smith's playoff success might earn him more playing time and drive his asking price too high for their budget. That never happened and they signed him to a very reasonable two-year deal that is set to expire this summer.

But the playoffs can completely change the perception of a goalie and what he can demand in his next contract. It can also change how a team approaches their goaltending situation the following summer.

And two goalie situations playing out in the postseason for Pittsburgh and Chicago could help shape an interesting summer goalie market.

When Marc-Andre Fleury struggled to start the playoffs for the Penguins, Tomas Vokoun came in and steadied the ship in round 1. He's been a calming veteran presence and is a big reason the Penguins' game has settled. It's also raised questions about Fleury's future with the Penguins.

Read the entire story here.

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Blackhawks don't need to be reminded the importance of Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday.

If the Blackhawks win, they regain home-ice advantage and even the series at 2-2. If they lose, the series leans heavily in the Red Wings' favor. Of the 229 past best-of-seven series, only 20 times, an 8.7 percentage, has a team come back from a 3-1 deficit to win the series.

"You throw around terms like must win and all that," Blackhawks forward Patrick Sharp said on Tuesday. "I think every game in the playoffs is a must-win. You can spin every game however you want. Every game is huge. You want to win every time you take the ice. Being down 2-1 in their building, obviously that game, Game 4, is really big."

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CHICAGO -- Scoring has rarely been an issue for the Chicago Blackhawks this season.

The Blackhawks ranked second in the league with 149 goals for (3.10 goals per game) and weren't shut out during the regular season. Their offensive ways continued in the first round of the playoffs as they averaged 3.4 goals in five games against the Minnesota Wild.

But after opening the Western Conference semifinal series with a four-goal output against the Detroit Red Wings in Game 1, the Blackhawks' production has been slowed to a trickle in the past two games. They scored just once in Game 2 and again in Game 3 -- both resulting in losses -- and they were held to a total of two goals in a two-game span for the first time all season.

The Blackhawks acknowledged their slump on Tuesday, but they said they haven't lost faith in their ability to score.

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It's getting close to do-or-die time for the Chicago Blackhawks. Down 2-1 in their playoff series with the Detroit Red Wings, they have to play better collectively and as individuals.

Contrary to some beliefs, Jonathan Toews isn't playing all that bad. His only problem is that pucks aren't going in for him, but he's getting his chances and he's still playing productive hockey. There are other players (or coaches) who need to step up far more than the captain.

Here are four:

Dave Bolland: There are basically two ways to assess a player's performance: by watching if he's a positive influence on the ice and his statistics. Bolland is passing neither test right now. Inserted into the lineup after the first round, he's been disappointing so far. He has zero points and is minus-2 in the first three games while accumulating 10 minutes in penalties. His role is a little different in this postseason than in the past but when asked to play shutdown defense or more of an offensive role -- as he was in Game 3 -- Bolland has come up short. His game is to annoy but it's only worked on the referees so far. The Hawks need more from him.

Brent Seabrook: He's been a minus player in each of the first three games of the series although he does have 10 shots on goal. But that minus-4 isn't going to cut it. The move by Gustav Nyquist to open the scoring in Game 3 was a good one but Seabrook is paid to kill that play any way possible. He's played less than 20 minutes in each game of the series so far after averaging 22 during the regular season. He and his partner, Nick Leddy, have struggled but we expect more from Seabrook, the Olympic champion and former Stanley Cup winner.

Corey Crawford: Crawford hasn't played downright bad but he can step it up too. Simply stated, he's been outplayed by his counterpart, Jimmy Howard. Howard made a good save on Brandon Saad when he cut across the middle in Game 3, not unlike the move Nyquist made. But Nyquist scored on his. Pavel Datsyuk had great placement on goal No. 3 on Monday but that's because Crawford went down early giving Datsyuk the upper half of the net. It's hard to constitute any goal as a softy but to say a few have been save-able would be an understatement.

Joel Quenneville: Wings coach Mike Babcock has been winning the cat and mouse game with his counterpart so far. Quenneville might have to get creative. He's probably one more loss away from switching goalies just to shake things up but there's still more he can do now. Move Patrick Sharp back to center and let Viktor Stalberg "run" with him and Patrick Kane. Sharp was at center for the Stanley Cup team in 2010 and the situation calls for it to happen again. That trio would get the Hawks to play faster because they need to. And Quenneville needs to reign in Andrew Shaw a little. Shaw is playing just over the edge putting the Hawks in a tough spot whether it's killing his penalties or having to get past a controversial goalie interference call.

DETROIT -- The Chicago Blackhawks may as well have thrown their hands up into the air after losing 3-1 to the Detroit Red Wings in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinal series on Monday.

The Blackhawks came out with a game plan to be more offensively aggressive, create more chances and be smarter with the puck after Game 2’s 4-1 disaster. When the final horn sounded at Joe Louis Arena on Monday, the Blackhawks felt they had accomplished nearly all they had sought out to do.

What was missing, of course, was a winning result.

“I think we did exactly what we wanted to do,” Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews said. “We were scratching, clawing. We were tough to play against tonight. Like I said, when it came down to it, [we] just didn't score enough goals to win the game. We'll come back even harder the next one.”

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DETROIT -- This was the slap in the face, the splash of cold water.

Not necessarily one the Chicago Blackhawks needed, but one they knew was coming. During any long playoff run for a Stanley Cup contender, there are moments when a big shove back from the opposition provides a very real reminder that it won’t come easy.

After the Detroit Red Wings beat the Blackhawks 3-1 Monday night to take a surprising 2-1 series lead over the favored Blackhawks, that was the message inside the Blackhawks dressing room. Adversity was going to come at some point this spring.

Well, it’s here.

“[It] almost takes something like this, maybe someone to slap you in the face, so to speak, to really understand what adversity is and how tough it can be,” Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews said after the loss.

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DETROIT -- Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville and his players believe an official made the wrong call of interference of the goaltender, disallowing a goal that would have tied the Detroit Red Wings in the third period of Game 3 in the Western Conference semifinal series Monday.

The Red Wings scored less than two minutes after the controversial call on Andrew Shaw and went ahead 3-1. The game ended in that score, and Red Wings took a 2-1 series lead.

“I disagreed with the call,” Quenneville said. “He didn’t touch the goalie. ... It certainly [changed the momentum of the game.] We’re 2-2, had everything going, some hits, offensive zone time. Obviously coming back from 2-0 that quick, we were in great shape.”

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Blackhawks forward Viktor Stalberg talks about his team's 3-1 loss to the Red Wings in Game 3.

DETROIT -- Here’s a quick look at the Detroit Red Wings' 3-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 3 of their Western Conference semifinal series at Joe Louis Arena on Monday.

How it happened: The Red Wings shifted the game’s momentum during a 31-second span in the second period. First, the Red Wings’ Gustav Nyquist raced to a loose puck near the blue line, pushed the puck to his left beyond the reach of Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook and then waited out diving attempts by Seabrook and Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford before shooting from the left circle and into the net at 7:49. Before the buzz from the crowd had ceased, the Red Wings were at it again. Off a turnover by Blackhawks defenseman Michal Rozsival in his defensive zone, Red Wings forward Cory Emmerton quickly got the puck to Patrick Eaves. Eaves put back-to-back shots on Crawford, and Drew Miller eventually finished off the job with a Detroit goal at 8:20. Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane pulled his team within a goal when he scored at 4:35 of the third period, but the Red Wings answered with a goal by Pavel Datsyuk at 6:46. The Red Wings killed off all four of the Blackhawks’ power plays. Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard made 39 saves.

Player of the game: The Blackhawks had their share of quality chances, but Howard was there nearly every time to stop them. Howard has had 30-plus saves in six playoff games this season.

What it means: The Red Wings have taken control of the series and have gone ahead 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. With another home game upcoming, the Red Wings have a chance to secure a commanding series lead. The Blackhawks, who were the league’s best team in the regular season, haven’t faced much adversity this season, but they’re in a difficult spot now. Their power play has continued to struggle; Jonathan Toews and Brandon Saad have yet to score in the playoffs. The Hawks need to win at least once in Detroit and the Red Wings are playing with confidence and the momentum.

What’s next: The series remains in Detroit with Game 4 coming on Thursday night. The Blackhawks will return to Chicago to practice on Tuesday and Wednesday.

DETROIT -- Chicago Blackhawks forward Daniel Carcillo was a healthy scratch from Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinal series against the Detroit Red Wings on Monday after playing in the team’s last four playoff games.

Carcillo was replaced in the lineup by Viktor Stalberg. Stalberg was a healthy scratch in the series’ first two games after appearing 47 of 48 regular-season games and in all five first-round games.

Carcillo played in the final two games against the Minnesota Wild in the first round and the first two games against the Red Wings. He was a healthy scratch for the first three games of the playoffs. He had one assist and a plus-2 rating and averaged 6:41 of ice time in four playoff games.

Former Chicago Blackhawks great Jeremy Roenick said Monday that coach Joel Quenneville made a big mistake sitting Viktor Stalberg in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Detroit Red Wings, who evened the series with a 4-1 win Saturday.

Stalberg, who also sat out the Hawks' Game 1 win, will return to the lineup for Game 3 on Monday in Detroit. Quenneville denied reports that the benching had to do with Stalberg complaining about his diminished role on the power play in the first round against Minnesota, and after initially stating he wasn't sure why he was benched, Stalberg later said he was told he needed to produce.

"I never say anything negative about Joel Quenneville because I think he's one of the best coaches in the game, he's one of the greatest guys in the game, but he made a big mistake with this one," Roenick told "The Carmen & Jurko Show" on ESPN 1000. "I don't care what your personal feud is, whether the kid's complaining, whether the kid's not pulling his weight, you can't take a kid like Stalberg who has the speed, the talent, the break-away speed that can change the course of the game and put in my buddy Dan Carcillo, who is very limited in what he's going to produce for you, and he ends up in the penalty box, which is not good.

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Western Conference Semifinals
Blackhawks at Red Wings, 7:30 ET (Series tied, 1-1)
* Red Wings: 2-1 at home this postseason (both wins were in overtime)
* Red Wings: lost last 4 home games vs Blackhawks (last home win vs CHI: Jan. 14, 2012)
* Red Wings: 1-10 on power play at home this postseason (5-22 on road)
* Blackhawks: 24-24 on penalty kill this postseason (only team yet to allow a PPG)
* Blackhawks: 19-5-2 on road this season (reg. season & playoffs)
* Patrick Sharp (CHI): 6 goals this postseason (tied for playoff lead)

DETROIT -- Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, who hasn't scored a goal in the playoffs, said he feels some added pressure to score, but he's trying not to let it affect him mentally entering Monday's Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinal series.

"Again maybe a little added pressure given the situation," Toews said after Monday's morning skate at Joe Louis Arena. "But I know it's one of those things that I got to keep working, keep trying to find ways to score and eventually it's going to come. Right now, just not letting it build up too much in my own mind.

"Sometimes you start squeezing the stick and the rest of your game kind of goes downhill, so not letting that happen. But I know that sooner or later, something's got to give. Hopefully, I'll be able to find a way to contribute in a big way for my team."

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