Blackhawks get job done in shootout
Four wins and an overtime loss. That's how the season began for the Blackhawks as they earned 9 of a possible 10 points.
But after that stellar start, coach Joel Quenneville's team struggled to maintain any sort of momentum as they went a very un-Hawks-like 3-6 in the next nine games.
So while the schedule isn't yet a quarter over, Tuesday's tilt at the United Center with Tampa Bay - the NHL's hottest team - certainly served as a moment to gauge just where the Hawks are at and to see if they could put back-to-back wins together for the first time since mid-October.
Well, it wasn't easy but Quenneville's squad squeaked out a 3-2 shootout victory over the Lightning, snapping their foe's six-game winning streak in the process. It also was the first time the Hawks beat Tampa Bay since the 2009-10 season.
"We're trying to get that good team game going where everybody's going on the same page," Duncan Keith said. "You're not going to dominate or control play for 60 straight minutes, but we're doing the best we can to limit the other team's chances and play tight defensively."
The Hawks prevailed when Patrick Kane roofed his shootout attempt past goalie Ben Bishop, who made 37 saves on the night. Quenneville's squad is 3-0 in shootouts after a 5-8 mark last season.
"Last year I wasn't very good. I think I was 1-for-11 (in shootouts)," Kane said. "So it's nice to start off good on that note when we go to the shootout. It's an important part of the game."
The Hawks (9-6-1) got regulation goals by Brad Richards (his third) and Marcus Kruger (second). They also lost Johnny Oduya to an injury midway through the third period. He was clearly frustrated on the bench.
"We'll know more tomorrow. Hopefully he'll be all right," is all Quennville would say afterward.
The Hawks completely dominated this game from the outset, outshooting Tampa Bay 19-6 in the first period. Still, the Lightning had a 1-0 lead after Kane turned the puck over on the power play, which led to Cedric Paquette's short-handed goal, the fourth shorty the Hawks have allowed this season.
"The game reminded me exactly of both games we had against them last year," Quenneville said. "We do a lot of good things in the game and we're either behind or it's close and a tight game. Anything can happen and the game's on the line basically from start to finish.
"We had a better ending this year, which is nice to see."
Crawford, the game's No. 1 star, stopped 25 of 27 shots and all 3 he saw in the shootout.
Said Quenneville: "He's sharp, he's handling the puck around the net, controlling his rebounds. He's very alert, very aware. In the shootout, he was outstanding."
The Hawks will look for a third straight victory Friday when they travel to Detroit.
"I think we're steadily getting more consistent throughout the game," Quenneville said. "Our game is getting close to becoming complete."
• Follow John's Hawks reports on Twitter @johndietzdh.