Winter Classic's timing perfect for Blackhawks

Not even Blackhawks president and marketing whiz John McDonough could have dreamed up this scenario.

After weeks of hype, the Hawks and the Detroit Red Wings have arrived at their back-to-back set of games - the second being the much-anticipated Winter Classic at Wrigley Field - and, lo and behold, first place in the Central Division is on the line.

The Hawks' franchise record nine-game winning streak has brought them within 4 points of the first-place Red Wings going into tonight's meeting at Joe Louis Arena.

And the Hawks have two games in hand.

"You look at the standings and we've got ourselves a battle," Detroit's Kris Draper said. "They've got a lot of confidence, and they're not going away. There's a lot at stake in the next two games."

The spotlight will be on Thursday's Winter Classic, but that doesn't make tonight's game any less important to the Hawks.

"It's going to be two huge games, obviously, but we want to worry about the first one in Detroit," Brent Seabrook said.

"Everyone keeps talking about Jan. 1, but our focus is on this next game," captain Jonathan Toews said.

This couldn't be a better time for the Hawks to play the defending Stanley Cup champs.

The Hawks haven't tasted defeat since a 5-4 shootout loss to the Red Wings on Dec. 6 at the Joe - a game nearly identical to the first meeting of the season between the two Original Six rivals. The Hawks led by 2 goals going into the third period, just as they did at the United Center on Oct. 25, when they wound up losing 6-5 in another shootout.

"The last couple times we played them we've been right there playing good hockey with them and we seem to make a few mistakes in the third period that end up costing us," Dustin Byfuglien said.

The Hawks know they can play with Detroit. Even last season, the Red Wings' championship year, the Hawks won five of eight.

"We realize we can play with them," goalie Cristobal Huet said. "We're right there in the standings, and I'm sure they're aware of that. They're looking behind and seeing we're close."

The Red Wings know they are facing the hottest team in the NHL.

"They're just beating everybody like a rented mule," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said.

"It will be a good test for us, playing the best team in hockey right now, the way they're playing," said Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom, who is doubtful for tonight with a swollen ankle.

Hawks coach Joel Quenneville knows his team's nine-game winning streak won't mean anything once they step onto the ice with the champs.

"If you look back at the two games we've played against them, we've been pretty effective in both games," Quenneville said. "Who knows if they're going to be high-scoring like that, but we have to play our best and be at our best."

The Hawks have been at their best for a month. They are 10-0-1 since their last loss in regulation Nov. 29 at Los Angeles.

"We've won in different fashions throughout this stretch, and I think that's a sign we're understanding what it's going to take to win and we're getting better with our thought process during games," Quenneville said.

"We've had some good breaks along the way, but the way we're working and how hard we're working, that's what's creating the breaks," Seabrook said. "A few of us have been on the other side of the spectrum when we couldn't win in 10 (games), so it's a great feeling.

"We're having a lot of fun doing it and pulling together."

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=261154">Inquiring minds get Winter Classic answers <span class="date">[12/30/08]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>