Dahlstrom and Murphy Quietly Becoming Blackhawks Shutdown Pairing
The Blackhawks’ defense has been the clear-cut weakness of the team all season long. A combination of rapidly declining veterans and inexperienced youngsters make up this current defensive unit.
The Blackhawk’s 2018-19 season thus far has consisted of constant changes not only to the lineup but to the coaching staff as well, leaving very little opportunity for consistency throughout the organization.
When Carl Dahlstrom was called up on December 12th, the Blackhawks were riding an 8-game losing streak. It was their second 8-game skid since late October. From October 27th to December 12th, the Blackhawks were 3-16-3 in 22 games. It was becoming overwhelmingly evident the defense was not getting the job done. However, one area of consistency within the Blackhawks has been the defensive pairing of Carl Dahlstrom and Connor Murphy. Murphy returned from Injured Reserve just two games before Dahlstrom was recalled from Rockford. Since Dahlstrom’s season debut, he has played in 18 of 19 games. The two have been paired together for all 18 of those games. The Blackhawks have a 9-6-4 record during that span and have played a significantly better brand of hockey than the previous two months.
Dahlstrom and Murphy have surprisingly become the solid shutdown pairing the Blackhawks have needed all season. Both players have averaged close to 20 minutes of ice time per game, and have played mostly in the defensive zone. According to hockey-reference.com, Dahlstrom receives 67.3% of his Zone Starts in the defensive zone, while Murphy is at 65.4%. Both figures are significantly higher than any other defenseman on the team. Despite playing frequently in the defensive zone, both have fantastic plus-minus numbers so far. Connor Murphy leads the team at +5, while Dahlstrom comes in second at +4. In comparison to the rest of the defense, the Blackhawks do not have another defenseman with a positive plus-minus rating. Brent Seabrook and Erik Gustafsson both sit at -12, while Duncan Keith and Henri Jokiharju are -6. While Murphy and Dahlstrom may not play the flashiest game in the league, the pair plays tough on the puck and gives the defense the much-needed size they were previously lacking.
Both Dahlstrom and Murphy are 6’4”, making them the tallest players on the team along with Artem Anisimov. But it’s one thing to have the height and weight, and it’s another to be able to play well with it. Brent Seabrook has the capability of being physical, but at his age, you won’t catch “Seabs” playing that style too often. The Blackhawks needed defensemen who would play tough in front of their own net and do the dirty work. Dahlstrom and Murphy took on that role and have had a lot of success so far. The pairing has combined for one goal and 10 assists, with a + 10 plus-minus rating in 18 games together. When you watch them play, there isn’t anything that really stands out about their game. But maybe that is the secret to their recent success. They play a simple game, moving the puck from zone to zone quickly and confidently. Whatever it is that has those two playing so well together, it sure is working. And if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.
Hopefully, Carl Dahlstrom and Connor Murphy continue to have success in the shutdown defensive role for the Chicago Blackhawks.
Featured Image: Bill Smith/gettyimages
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