Here come the Hawks, and opponents know it

It used to be that games against the Blackhawks were considered rest stops in a long NHL schedule, but not anymore.

Opponents prepare for the Hawks now. They gear up to stop one of the league's most potent offenses and zero in on containing the likes of Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp and Jonathan Toews.

Two weeks ago the Detroit Red Wings treated their two games with the Hawks as if it were playoff time.

Last Thursday the Colorado Avalanche played what some in Denver felt was their best all-around game of the season in beating the Hawks 2-1.

The Nashville Predators considered last weekend's home-and-home series with the Hawks tests of whether they had turned a corner in their up-and-down season.

"It shows we've come a long away, and it is a compliment that teams are taking us seriously and have to be at their best to beat us," Sharp said.

"I think we're on the radar for a lot of teams out there now," Toews said. "They're stepping up their games because they want to beat us now, and that's a good motivational factor for us."

Not to mention a pretty good testament to what the Hawks have been able to accomplish as they reach the halfway point in the season tonight against the Buffalo Sabres at the United Center with a 23-10-7 record.

"In the past we faced a lot of backup goaltenders and sometimes we didn't get teams' best efforts," Sharp said. "I think these last two games against Nashville we really saw that. We know they're a hard-working team to begin with, but we're not going to surprise anybody with the way that we've been playing and what our record is.

"It's just another challenge to be consistent and play hard every night. It's a good sign that we're going in the right direction."

Hawks coach Joel Quenneville has seen opponents attempt to tighten it up defensively and limit the time and space of a player such as Kane.

"I think teams might be looking to maybe, I don't want to say slow the game down, but not get into an exchange of chances off the rush and maybe look to play a lower-scoring game," Quenneville said.

"Maybe looking at the Colorado game, it might have showed up like that. Nashville kind of usually plays that type of a checking game and tries to get on you in that fashion. I don't foresee every game where the games are going to be check, check check. I think every team wants to score and will try to score. That's our approach."

Three of the Hawks' biggest goal scorers are experiencing lulls, which can be attributed to tighter checking. Kane has no goals in his last six games, Sharp 1 in seven and Toews 3 in his last 14.

"Games are tough and it's tough facing three forwards that are out there to check your line," Sharp said. "I'm usually playing with (Kane), and he draws the toughest defenders. It is tough and it's always a challenge, but it's nothing new to me personally. I plan on fighting through it and scoring a bunch more goals. I'm pretty confident in what I can do offensively."

Kane still is bothered by a sore right ankle but will keep playing through the pain.

"It's a little painful, but when I'm out there playing it's not on my mind at all," Kane said. "It's one of those things where you've got to play through pain.

"Maybe when you've got to make quick movements or jump off the gun real fast you're not as explosive as you might be, but I feel it getting better and that's probably the most important thing."

Tonight's faceoff

Blackhawks vs. Buffalo Sabres at the United Center, 7:30 p.m.

TV: Comcast SportsNet

Radio: WGN 720-AM

At a glance: The Sabres are a very good road team at 9-7-3, and they're 5-3-2 in their last 10 games. They lost 3-1 Saturday in Detroit despite getting 48 shots on goal, including 23 in the third period. Buffalo's Tomas Vanek is among the league leaders in goals with 27.

Next: New York Rangers at the United Center, 7:30 p.m. Friday

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