For Hawks' offense, risks bring rewards

For the better part of the last decade, it has been agonizing watching the Blackhawks try to score goals.

Only once since the 1996-97 season have they scored more than 211 goals in an 82-game schedule. Last season their 201 goals ranked 28th in the NHL.

Things sure are different now.

The Hawks are proving to be one of the more entertaining teams in the league thanks to a new and improved offense that has been upgraded significantly by the additions of rookies Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, veteran Robert Lang and a few tweaks here and there by coach Denis Savard and his staff.

Once such tweak involves the defensemen, who are encouraged to join the play even if it means taking a risk. The result has been 20 goals from the defense in the first 26 games -- 1 fewer than what was contributed from the blue line all of last season.

Center Patrick Sharp, who leads the Hawks with 12 goals, remembers how difficult it was to play the last few seasons knowing that it was unlikely the team was going to score more than twice in a game.

"I think you play a little looser and with a little more confidence when your team is scoring goals," Sharp said. "In the past when we'd get down by 1 or 2 goals early in the game, it was a tough hole to climb out of. Now we have a lot of guys in here that can put the puck in the net and you've seen come-from-behind wins and some big leads we've had. It definitely eases the pressure a little bit up front."

The Hawks take 78 goals into tonight's game against the Vancouver Canucks at the United Center. That total ranked seventh in the NHL prior to Tuesday's games, and it was accomplished mostly without Martin Havlat.

Havlat missed 23 of the first 26 games with a shoulder injury, and now that he is back he's thrilled to have the offensive help.

"Last year was a different team, and it was difficult for us to score 2 or 3 goals," Havlat said. "But now we have guys like Toews, Kane and Robert Lang, and more players that can score goals. It's a great thing because you have to score goals if you want to win."

Savard has watched his team get goals from everywhere. In addition to Sharp's 12 and the goals from the defense, led by Dustin Byfuglien's 6 and 5 from James Wisniewski, Toews has 10 -- while Lang, Kane and Jason Williams have 7 goals each.

The Hawks have scored 23 power-play goals (they had 43 all of last season) and lead the NHL with 10 short-handed scores.

"I still think there's improvement to make," Savard said.

General manager Dale Tallon made it a priority starting before the trade deadline last season to add offense. While free agents Sergei Samsonov and Yanic Perreault haven't produced as Tallon thought they would, Kane and Toews have been better than expected and the defense has been a factor in the offense nearly every night.

"Our personnel (is better), there's no question," Savard said. "But at the same time we've implemented some new stuff for our players and I think they've grasped it pretty good and are enjoying the style we're playing.

"Our defense has been very active, and that's a big difference. You need a five-man attack. The biggest thing for us is breaking out of our end. We've done a good job of that and we've got options everywhere."

Tonight's faceoff

Blackhawks vs. Vancouver Canucks at the United Center, 7:30 p.m.

TV: None

Radio: WSCR 670-AM

The skinny: You can't beat the Canucks without solving goalie Roberto Luongo, who had posted three straight shutouts before losing 2-1 at Minnesota on Sunday. Luongo's shutout streak started in a 27-save, 2-0 whitewash of the Hawks on Nov. 25 in Vancouver. The Canucks are 9-1-2 in their last 13 games and come to town tied with the Hawks with 30 points. Vancouver's power play is the fourth best in the NHL on the road. Nikolai Khabibulin starts in goal for the Hawks, who are looking to run their home ice winning streak to six games.

Player to watch: Roberto Luongo. The Canucks' goalie is sneaking up on Martin Broudeur as the best in the world.

Next: Friday vs. the Anaheim Ducks at the United Center, 7:30 p.m.

-- Tim Sassone