Dietz: Blackhawks catching fire with top line
In the span of just 36 hours, the Blackhawks sent out two clear messages: one to one of their players, the other to the rest of the league.
Message 1 to Kris Versteeg on Monday: Stop playing like garbage or you may sit out a game.
Message 2 Tuesday night at the United Center: Watch out. The team's top line from last year is back together and playing like they never want to be broken up again.
Yes, Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp completely dominated from the moment the puck hit the ice as the Blackhawks plastered the reeling New York Islanders 4-1. Toews scored the first 2 goals and added 2 assists, while Hossa scored the final 2 goals, and Sharp chipped in with 2 assists.
Hossa and Corey Crawford were asked what makes the trio so effective.
"We've been together here for six years in one dressing room," Hossa said. "We've had lots of games together. There's a chemistry there."
Said Crawford: "It's a combination of everything - how much speed and skill they have. They're so unpredictable to where they're going with the puck in the offensive zone. … They were really clicking tonight."
The top line took 7 of the Hawks' 16 shots on net in the first period and had 11 of 24 midway through the third period before taking their foot off the gas with the game in hand. Just as important, they hung a big, fat minus-4 rating on Islanders center and NHL leading scorer John Tavares.
With 948 career goals to their credit, it's no surprise, of course, that Toews, Hossa and Sharp can fill the net and put on quite a show.
"It was certainly fun to watch," coach Joel Quenneville said. "They made some nice plays. … Transitionally they were really effective and dangerous all game long. It's nice to see them have a big night like that."
Crawford stopped 38 of 39 shots and continues to show why he's one of the league's top goalies, having allowed just 8 goals in the last seven games and turning away 216 of 224 shots for an eye-popping .964 save percentage.
The only real eye sore on the night came 5:30 into the second period when Andrew Shaw received a five-minute major and game misconduct for head-butting Brock Nelson. "Not a smart penalty," Quenneville said.
The Hawks led 2-0 at the time and allowed just 1 shot on goal in one of their most impressive penalty kills of the season. Quenneville was asked if he thinks Shaw should be suspended for his actions.
After hesitating for a second, the coach said, "Killing a five-minute major to me is enough."
The Hawks are 7-1-1 in their last nine games and keeping the pressure on St. Louis and Nashville in the Central Division. They are 4 points behind Nashville with three games in hand and 5 behind division-leading St. Louis with one game in hand.
As for Versteeg, he was in fact in the lineup Tuesday after not skating with any of the Hawks' four lines at practice Monday. Versteeg played on the third line with Brad Richards and Bryan Bickell and took 1 shot in 11:53 of ice time, far short of his 16:05 average.
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