Hawks torrid top line thumps Stars

It was another huge night for the Blackhawks’ top line of Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp.

With Hossa scoring twice, Toews once and Sharp dishing out 4 assists, the Hawks rolled over Dallas 5-2 at American Airlines Center on Saturday.

Corey Crawford was big again with 31 saves as the Hawks improved to 11-2-4 with the win.

“I don’t know if it’s anything in particular, it’s just the three of us are kind of building off each other’s strengths and see if we can get better as we go along,” Sharp said. “I wouldn’t judge the goals going in as an indicator of how we’re playing. But for the most part we’re creating more chances than we’re giving up.”

Patrick Kane and Niklas Hjalmarsson also scored for the Hawks.

Kane’s goal, his 10th of the season, came at 18:15 of the second period on the Hawks’ first power play, putting them ahead to stay at 3-2.

Hjalmarsson scored into an empty net from 200 feet away short-handed with 1:07 to play after the Stars pulled goalie Kari Lehtonen for the sixth attacker. Hjalmarsson played a strong game despite a lower body injury, leading all Hawks in ice time with 24:32 and blocking 3 shots.

The Hawks took 3 penalties in the first period, giving Dallas all the momentum.

The Stars finished 0-for-6 on the night on the power play.

“It’s frustrating with all the penalties early to get our four lines and six D in the game and kind of get some flow going,” Sharp said. “But we were patient and capitalized on our power play. We knew it was going to come sooner or later and we got a big goal on it to take the lead, which was huge for us.”

Hjalmarsson had just been back on the ice two seconds after a tripping penalty when Cody Eakin scored at 6:10 for a 1-0 Stars lead.

Hossa scored late in the first period to make it 1-1. Hossa’s seventh goal of the season came from the left side off a pass from Toews.

The Stars took a 2-1 lead at 6:54 of the second period when Tyler Seguin scored short side on Crawford from the right side. Seguin didn’t have much to shoot at but found a hold off the crossbar and in past Crawford.

Toews’ ninth goal of the season at 10:19 of the second period made it 2-2.

Toews was battling in front when he dove to knock a Kane pass under Lehtonen. The puck might have been in already after hitting a Dallas defended in front.

Dallas got the first 5 power plays (0-for-5) before the Hawks had their first late in the second period and they cashed in on a goal by Kane at 18:15.

Keith started the play in his own end when he poked the puck to Sharp, who took it the other way at full speed. Sharp passed to Andrew Shaw in the middle and he got the puck to Kane for the one-timer past Lehtonen.

Kane nearly made it a 2-goal lead in the last minute of the period when Shaw sent him in on a breakaway, but Lehtonen turned the Hawks’ star away with a pad save.

It was the first of another weekend with back-to-back games for the Hawks, who now are 4-0-0 in the first game after going 10-1-1 last season.

“We’re playing to win that first game,” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said.

“Our first game, we usually play pretty good,” Hawks winger Bryan Bickell said. “It’s nice playing on the road and then coming back and having home ice with the crowd behind us. Sometimes I feel better about the second game.”

The Hawks play the struggling Edmonton Oilers on Sunday.

ŸFollow Tim’s hockey reports on Twitter @TimSassone and check out his Between the Circles blog at dailyherald.com.