Savard gets Hawks refocused

The challenge was issued by Blackhawks coach Denis Savard.

"To get in the playoffs we're going to have to win three out of (every) five, and it starts tonight," Savard said Wednesday morning.

A few hours later, the Hawks gave Savard what he asked for with a 5-2 victory over the Nashville Predators before 14,151 at the United Center.

Led by first-liners Robert Lang and Martin Havlat, the Hawks (16-15-2) jumped out to a 4-0 lead, winning for only the second time in the last eight games.

Patrick Sharp and Lang each scored twice, while Havlat dished out 3 assists.

"Our best players tonight were outstanding," Savard said. "Really, besides them playing a heck of a game for us, I could look down our bench and everyone was going."

As much as Savard hates to look too far ahead, he had no problem telling his players how difficult it will be to make the playoffs. Earlier this week, Savard said the Hawks likely would need to win 30 of their final 50 games to reach the postseason.

"I don't like to look at the big picture, but if you cut it down to 10 five-game segments and you win three out of five, that gives you 92 points, and I believe we're capable of doing that," Savard said. "We have to believe we can.

"If you look at needing to win 30 games, it's a lot of games when you think of it out of 50. But if you go three out of five or six out of 10, it looks a lot easier to me. I don't know, I wasn't very good at math."

Lang thinks the Hawks simply need to stay patient and not get caught up in that kind of numbers game, or dwell on how they just lost six of seven.

"You can't just press the panic button every time you lose a game," Lang said. "Nobody likes to be on losing streaks. Every single guy on this team wants to win and you've just got to stay with it."

Sharp scored once on the power play and once short-handed, giving him a team-high 16. It was his league-leading sixth short-handed goal and the 11th for the Hawks, which also tops the NHL.

"All four lines played strong tonight and contributed in their own way," Sharp said.

But it was the top line of Lang, Havlat and rookie Petri Kontiola setting the tone. Kontiola was promoted to the first line when Dustin Byfuglien went back to defense following Tuesday's trade that sent Jim Vandermeer to Philadelphia.

"Every time your top lines play well, your whole team benefits from it," said Lang, whose 2 goals gave him 11 for the season.

"He played a great game," said linemate Havlat. "He was always in the right spot and wide open around the net."

It was 2-0 less than six minutes into the first period on goals by Lang at 3:02 and Byfuglien at 5:23. Newcomer Ben Eager assisted on Byfuglien's eighth goal.

Predators goalie Chris Mason was promptly lifted after allowing 2 goals on 2 shots.