Playoffs bring out the best in Richards

Statistically speaking, it wasn't the best of seasons for Brad Richards.

Scratch that.

Statistically speaking, it was actually the worst of seasons for Richards, who came to the Blackhawks on a one-year deal in the off-season.

The veteran centerman of 1,184 games scored just 12 goals to go along with 25 assists skating mostly with Patrick Kane and Kris Versteeg on the team's second line.

But that's all ancient history now, and Richards freely admitted Sunday that this is the time of year he plays for.

"I'll be honest, at this point in my career the playoffs are going to be the time I'm the most focused and ready," said Richards who played with a Rangers team last year that lost in five games to the Kings in the Stanley Cup Final. "I was so close last year, you get the taste and I decided to come here because I know this team always has a shot.

"Now we're in it and I couldn't be happier and more excited to play every night. It's a lot of fun right now."

Those feelings are clearly translating on the ice where Richards was riding a three-game points streak heading into Game 2 against the Wild. Two of Richards' 3 assists came on Patrick Kane goals that have been huge in the Hawks' Game 6 win over Nashville and their Game 1 win over the Wild.

Richards, who celebrated his 35th birthday Saturday and won a Cup in 2004 with the Lightning, understands more than most why players on teams like the Hawks must always have a "win now" approach.

"It's not normal to have multiple runs at the Stanley Cup, have multiple rings already early in your career, to cherish it," Richards said. "I wanted it and it took 10 years to get back. I've seen longer stretches."

Winning ugly:

Brent Seabrook and coach Joel Quenneville were both asked if Teuvo Teravainen's game-winning goal in Game 1 was an ugly one.

"Those are the goals you have to score in the playoffs because the pretty ones aren't there," Quenneville said. "So we'll call it borderline ugly."

Seabrook was inclined to agree.

"In the playoffs, there's a lot of ugly goals that go in," he said. "That's how you win hockey games."

Crazy times:

Think about this: The Blackhawks, who allowed a league-best 2.3 goals a game this season, have already seen Nashville and Minnesota rack up 3 goals in one period five times this postseason. Coach Joel Quenneville was asked if the reason behind that is simply the momentum factor that the playoffs can sometimes bring.

"If you're watching game in and game out, these playoffs are a little wilder than other years," Quenneville said. "But teams are so evenly matched. You're never out of a hockey game. You can gamble when you're down; we've seen that so far in these playoffs."

Tip-ins:

Duncan Keith leads all defensemen with 10 points in the postseason (8 assists). … After his 30-save effort Sunday, Corey Crawford's save percentage in the playoffs improved from .871 to .895. His goals allowed averaged went from 3.81 to 3.13.

He said it:

"I don't know what team played that game, but it wasn't us tonight."

- Wild coach Mike Yeo after his team lost Game 2 at the United Center on Sunday.