Hawks start proving they're good
Every so often, the Blackhawks serve up a reminder they are the Stanley Cup champs — new faces and all.
It was one of those nights Wednesday at the United Center as the Hawks spanked the Avalanche 4-0 behind goalie Corey Crawford's second straight shutout.
Little by little, the Hawks are showing signs they can be as good as any team in the Western Conference.
“I don't know if doubt is the word; I think proving it was probably something that we had to do,” said Hawks coach Joel Quenneville. “A couple times we may have teased ourselves, looking like we were on our way.
“I think having more stability with our lines and combination of lines has been helpful, but it's nice knowing we proved we can be a good team. Now let's prove we can be a better team.”
Third-line checkers Dave Bolland and Fernando Pisani each had a goal and an assist to help the Hawks stretch their winning streak to three games.
The line of Bolland, Pisani and Bryan Bickell held Colorado's top line centered by Matt Duchene off the scoreboard.
“I thought our line did a good job of shutting those guys down and creating some good opportunities for ourselves,” Pisani said. “I think we more or less all are just clicking. We're on the same page. Guys are working hard away from the puck, coming back and not giving teams too many opportunities in the offensive zone.”
Any slips defensively and Crawford has been there. He won for the 15th time in 22 starts.
“Crow has been great,” Bolland said. “He's been a great goalie since I've been with him (in the minors), and now he's showing it up here in the NHL.”
A big part of the Hawks' improved stability has been the play of defensemen Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook.
Keith and Seabrook had monster games in Wednesday's win, each a plus-4. Seabrook also dished out 5 hits while Keith blocked 2 shots.
It was back on Dec. 13 in Denver when Keith and Seabrook were minus-4 each in a 7-5 loss to the Avs.
“They lit me and my defense partner Duncan up pretty good there so we wanted to come back and have a strong game against these guys and do our job and just have a solid game,” Seabrook said.
Keith credited the forwards with helping lead the way defensively.
“I thought we played good, but to be honest with you, you're looking at the stats, you're looking at the plus-minus,” Keith said. “I mean, Bolland, Pisani and Bickell created a lot of offense tonight and to me that's the big difference tonight, getting plusses.”
The Hawks now have an important home-and-home set with Nashville this weekend before getting a five-day break in the schedule.
“We've got to keep it going,” Bolland said. “We can't lay back now and think it's just going to come easy for us. It's just going to get tougher and tougher as everything goes by and we have to keep it rolling here.”
Tim Sassone's game tracker
Blackhawks 4, Avalanche 0
<B>Three stars</B>
1. Dave Bolland, Hawks: Plus-2 with a goal, assist and 3 takeaways while helping shut down Avs star Matt Duchene.
2. Corey Crawford, Hawks: Made 24 saves for his second straight shutout.
3. Brent Seabrook, Hawks: Plus-4 with partner Duncan Keith with 2 assist and 5 a team-high 5 hits.
<B>Watchful eyes</B>
According to the Hawks, 23 scouts requested seats in the press box Wednesday, including four from Atlanta. There has been talk the Hawks might be interested in re-aquiring Thrashers winger Ben Eager.
<B>The quote</B>
“We didn't match their intensity tonight at all, right from the start and all the way through the game,” - Avs coach Joe Sacco