Seabrook has a blast in Blackhawks' win

There's something about watching Brent Seabrook line up one of his patented big blasts from just inside the blue line.

Maybe it's because you just know what's coming next.

"It is a little intimidating, I'm not going to lie," said Kris Versteeg, who has been there, done that many times. "He shoots it so hard. It's like a loaded gun from 40 feet.

"Just try to either tip it or get out of the way."

Imagine what it must be like to be a goalie facing that bazooka without the option of getting out of the way.

"Sometimes with Seabs you just don't have a chance," Antti Raanta admitted with a laugh.

Well, that was certainly the case for Minnesota goalie Niklas Backstrom on Tuesday night when Seabrook took a Versteeg pass from between the circles and let it fly. The blistering shot beat Backstrom to tie the score at 1-1 and key a 5-3 victory over the relentless Wild at the United Center.

The goal was the sixth of the season for Seabrook, who added a pair of assists for his first 3-point outing since Dec. 5, 2010.

"The guys have dug deep," said Seabrook, whose usual D partner Duncan Keith was out sick. "If someone is injured or sick, other guys keep stepping up."

The Hawks knew that was exactly what they would need to have against Minnesota, the same team that took the Hawks six games deep last spring in the Western Conference semifinals.

"Minnesota's a very dangerous team," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "We saw firsthand last year in the playoffs what they're capable of. They've got speed; they check well, play a real solid team game.

"You have to look for a real simple game to get through it."

Seabrook's score keyed a 3-goal second period with Marian Hossa and Jonathan Toews finding the net as well.

But the never-say-die Wild battled back with 2 goals in the third, including one on a penalty shot goal from Nino Niederreiter, to tie the game midway through.

But again, when the chips were down, Patrick Kane came through, this time with his 15th of the season while on the power play to give the Hawks a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

An empty-netter from Ben Smith sealed the deal for the Hawks, who have won 10 of their last 11.

"Tough game," Quenneville said. "We've been a way for a while. and I liked the way the guys responded tonight."

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