Full speed ahead for surging Hawks

"We're playing playoff hockey. We're dedicated to do whatever we need to do to get the job done."

Blackhawks coach Denis Savard

This might be the roll the Blackhawks have been waiting for all season, and it couldn't come at a better time.

With 15 games to play, the Hawks are playing their best hockey of the season and the playoffs are firmly in their sights.

"We're playing playoff hockey," coach Denis Savard said. "We're dedicated to do whatever we need to do to get the job done."

And the feeling in the dressing room is why stop now?

"The feeling is coming in here," center Adam Burish said. "The biggest thing is how close everybody is. People outside this team don't realize this is a close bunch of guys.

"You can see the way we play, everybody sticking up for each other. We all want to come to the rink, and if you have that with a group of 20 guys that want to come to the rink, want to practice, want to win, you can do some special things."

The Hawks will be looking for their fourth win in a row and sixth straight at the United Center tonight against the San Jose Sharks, and you can bet the game plan will be the same: To come out hitting and keep hitting.

The Hawks have dictated the flow in their five-game home winning streak, setting early tones physically. That was a big part of the story in Wednesday's 3-0 victory over Anaheim, one of the toughest teams in the NHL.

"We were challenged big time as far as physical play and chippy play, and we didn't back down an inch," Savard said. "It's a strong message that we send to the hockey world, that we're willing to do whatever it takes to get to the next level."

Burish said the in-your-face play is something that becomes contagious.

"You see Craig Adams going after someone. You see Wiz (James Wisniewski) jump in there. It's not just one or two guys, it's everybody getting in people's faces, being aggressive and not backing down from anybody," Burish said. "Then all of a sudden it gives (Patrick) Kane and (Jonathan) Toews and our skill guys more room. That's what a good team does."

The Hawks have three shutouts and have allowed only 2 goals in their last five home games, which Savard says starts with being physical.

"That's part of the plan here," Savard said. "We're a big club. You look at Anaheim and that's a big team. Well, guess what? We're as big as they are, or bigger."

Winger Dustin Byfuglien suggested that maybe the Hawks are so young they don't know they're not supposed to go into Minnesota and win or stand up physically to the Stanley Cup champion Ducks.

"We're a young team and we don't know what to expect," Byfuglien said. "All we can do is work hard every shift, battle as hard as we can, and have fun. It all comes down to team effort and wanting to pay the price."

It should be another raucous affair at the UC tonight with a sellout crowd expected for Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita night.

"Not just the fact that Stan and Bobby will be here, but I think our players are rallying around our fans," Savard said. "Our fans are a big part of the success we've been having lately.

"We've got momentum going, but at the same time it's pedal on the metal. We can't slack off here."