Blackhawks just getting fired up

Every year, it happens.

Every year since Joel Quenneville took over as Blackhawks head coach four games into the 2008-09 season, his team has taken the NHL by storm by going on an extended winning stretch that cements a playoff berth and sets his team up for a chance at another Stanley Cup run.

The timing of these hot streaks have been uncanny. In six of Quenneville's eight seasons running the team, the Hawks get off to a decent start, then turn on the jets in about mid-to-late November or early December.

And this year is no different as the Hawks were 13-9-4 on Dec. 5 and in fifth place in the Central Division, 12 points behind first-place Dallas.

Thirty-four days later - after a 13-4-0 run - the Hawks are 26-13-4, solidly in second place and just 6 points behind the Stars.

"I like the improvements in our game," Quenneville said after his team won its sixth straight, a 3-1 victory over Buffalo on Friday. "We've got a little more predictability in our lineup now.

"We tried some different things. We'll continue to try and get better, but I like the progression in our team game and our puck-possession game."

Because the Hawks traded Brandon Saad and Patrick Sharp and also lost Johnny Oduya in the off-season, many pundits wondered if the Hawks would struggle to find a groove.

They certainly did for a while, for myriad reasons.

First and foremost, Duncan Keith missed 11 games from mid-October to mid-November after having a procedure done on his right knee.

Marian Hossa isn't the player, offensively anyway, he once was, and Quenneville has yet to find a consistent replacement for Saad on the top line with Jonathan Toews.

Quenneville and his coaching staff have tinkered with the roster like mad scientists, giving practically a dozen players a chance to make it. Trevor Daley? Traded. Viktor Tikhonov? Waived. David Rundblad? Loaned. Kyle Baun, Vincent Hinostroza, Tanner Kero, Marko Dano, Ryan Hartman and Viktor Svedberg? Thanks for coming out, but you need more seasoning in Rockford.

So it's no wonder it took the Hawks some time to find their footing.

But wow, have they found it of late.

The biggest reason has to be the play of Corey Crawford, who absolutely deserves to be playing in the All-Star Game at the end of the month. His play, combined with everyone's commitment to playing strong defensively, is why the Hawks have allowed just 33 goals over their last 17 games. (Fourteen, by the way, came in three games. So take those out and the Hawks allowed just 19 goals in the other 14, a crazy-low 1.36 average).

"I thought I started out really strong," Crawford said Friday. "I kind of dipped in November a little bit. I was just inconsistent in games, losing focus and just giving up goals you don't want to be giving up.

"And then I was able to get back at it, play a lot of games and really get in the zone."

Obviously, the amazing play of Patrick Kane, Artemi Panarin and Artem Anisimov has been another big reason for the Hawks' success, not just in this 17-game stretch, but all season.

Another thing that has helped fuel this run is the fact that three young players have taken advantage of their opportunities and turned the Hawks into a more well-rounded team.

Those three are defenseman Erik Gustafsson and centers Phillip Danault and Dennis Rasmussen.

Gustafsson, with 5 assists in just 12 games, and Danault, who scored the game-winning goal Friday, have really popped of late.

It's added up to a very dangerous four-line rotation and a six-man back end that is giving opponents next to nothing in terms of scoring chances.

"Those guys made an impact almost right away," Crawford said of Gustafsson and Danault. "(Danault) is just getting more confident as he goes here. Lot of speed - him and Teuvo (Teravainen) and Desi (Andrew Desjardins) - that line has been really good, really solid coming back on defense, and pretty tricky offensively too.

"And Gus has just been solid there. Just a guy on 'D' who can see the ice, pick his head up and make plays."

Are there still holes? Sure, but fans have to expect GM Stan Bowman will do his best to fill them before the trade deadline hits at the end of February.

It all adds up to the Hawks jelling at the perfect time and setting themselves up for yet another long playoff run.

• Follow John on Twitter @johndietzdh

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