Chicago Blackhawks complete 5-1-0 trip with win over Oilers
Staring at a five-day respite during the dog days of the season, it wouldn't have come as a huge surprise if the Chicago Blackhawks went into Edmonton on Saturday and laid an egg.
After all, it's human nature to start dreaming about beaches and sun for some, or just good, quality family time for others to allow the body to heal up and get ready for the stretch run.
Well, credit the Hawks for not giving into temptation as they jumped all over the Oilers and ran away with a 5-1 victory to complete an extremely impressive 5-1-0 road trip.
The win was the Hawks' fifth straight and means they trail first-place Minnesota by just 3 points, although the Wild does have three games in hand.
"You don't know how you're going to do (on the trip) and you think, 'OK, this could (determine) what we're battling for coming down the stretch,'" coach Joel Quenneville told WGN 720-AM before the game. "This keeps us in the hunt chasing Minnesota."
Edmonton, which hadn't played since last Sunday, actually grabbed a 1-0 lead 4:01 into the game, but the Hawks (35-17-5) got 2 goals from Richard Panik and additional goals from Patrick Kane and Trevor van Riemsdyk to build a 4-1 lead after two periods.
Artem Anisimov scored the Hawks' final goal with 4:11 left in the game for his 20th.
For the second straight game, the Hawks played top-notch team defense, allowing just 18 shots through two periods. Scott Darling started in net and improved to 13-5-2.
Kane's goal was a beauty as he banked the puck off goalie Cam Talbot's left skate from behind the net with 10:06 left in the first period. Kane has 7 goals in the last 12 games after recording just 12 in the first 45. His 58 points rank fourth in the league.
Panik has 14 goals and 8 points in the last nine games.
The most encouraging part of this run by the Hawks is the fact that all four lines are contributing on the scoresheet. Eleven players accounted for the 23 goals during the five-game winning streak.
"On any given night one line might have had a little bit more production," Quenneville told reporters before the victory over Edmonton. "I thought there was more consistency. Our back end offensively was more involved in our attack (as well). …
"Steady improvement over course of the year with our four-line rotation and our puck possession, but definitely our best over this stretch of games."
Edmonton has lost four of five since the all-star break, managing just 4 goals over that stretch.
• The Rockford IceHogs snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 3-2 overtime victory at Milwaukee on Friday. Sam Carrick, who has 5 goals in the last eight games, scored the game-winner. Rockford followed that up with a 4-3 shootout win over San Antonio on Saturday. Tyler Motte snapped a 10-game goal-scoring drought in the victory.