Hawks' 5-on-3 power-play flops costly
While the Blackhawks have done a lot of the little things well in their recent hot streak, they have failed in one big area.
The Hawks haven't scored in their last seven 5-on-3 power-play opportunities and have mostly looked inept in the process.
Games are often won and lost with a 5-on-3 chances, and Friday was no exception. The Hawks had a failed two-man advantage for 56 seconds in the first period of their 3-2 loss to San Jose.
"In a 5-on-3, the puck has to be moved quickly," Hawks coach Denis Savard said. "The defenders, if you massage it and you hold on to it, they have a chance to get back in position. The puck has to move quick and we have to attack whether it's from the top or the bottom depending on what they're showing."
Savard and assistant John Torchetti, who runs the power play, repeated their message of better puck movement at practice Saturday.
"We need better puck movement, but if it comes to the worst situation we've just got to pound the puck on net," Patrick Sharp said. "We've got to get the puck to the net as much as possible instead of looking for the perfect play all the time.
"It's certainly something that can help you a lot. If you get a 5-on-3 opportunity, you've got to bank on getting a goal and swinging momentum. Every time they kill it off it's a big momentum swing for them.
"Those are turning points in games. You can't score every time, but we've got to get a few more goals there."
MRI for Eager: The Hawks aren't calling Ben Eager's injured right shoulder dislocated or separated. They will know more after the left winger has an MRI on Monday.
Eager was hurt late in the first period of Friday's loss to San Jose when he was hit by Sharks defenseman Kyle McLaren.
"He's got to get an MRI to see if there's damage in there or not," Denis Savard said. "He's real sore."
Moving ahead: Denis Savard doesn't believe the Hawks lost any momentum in their playoff drive by losing to the Sharks on Friday.
"I'd say it was a B-plus performance," Savard said. "We've been playing so well lately. There's lots of hockey to be played here. We still have a chance to go 3-1 for the week and that was our goal."
The Hawks will take on an Edmonton team today at the United Center that has won five of its last six games.
"They have a bunch of young kids like we do that play with a lot of energy, so we have to bring our 'A' game," Savard said.
Tip-ins: Denis Savard's plan for his goalies is to start Patrick Lalime today and Tuesday in Detroit, and give Corey Crawford his second start Wednesday against Carolina. … Nikolai Khabibulin might attempt to test his back by skating Monday.