Blackhawks in agreement: more tight games ahead

So should we consider the Blackhawks to be in a slide?

Well, yes and no.

Scuffling, maybe.

While they are 5-5-1 since their nine-game winning streak ended on Dec. 30 in Detroit, the Hawks are 3-1-1 in the last five games and can go into the all-star break on a positive note with another victory Wednesday over the St. Louis Blues at the United Center.

"It's getting to that tight time of the season," defenseman Brian Campbell said Tuesday. "You just have to try to stay consistent. Obviously we've struggled a little bit staying consistent through the last few games, but I think that's a huge key coming down the stretch here.

"It's a battle. It's desperate, especially in our conference. And we're not sneaking up on anybody either. Teams are ready and prepared for us, so you've got to be more creative and change it up a bit. Either that or do it an even high level than you did before."

The Hawks have hit a wall offensively - with 14 goals in the last seven games - since they demolished Phoenix 6-0 on Jan. 6 in Arizona.

A big part of it is the Hawks' top scorers, with the exception of Martin Havlat (4 goals in five games), have struggled putting the puck in the net, particularly on the power play, which is 5 for its last 41.

Patrick Kane has no goals in 11 games, Patrick Sharp 1 in eight and Jonathan Toews 2 in seven. The drought has spread through the top three lines with Andrew Ladd scoreless in eight games and Kris Versteeg in seven. Dave Bolland has 1 goal in 12 games and Dustin Byfuglien 1 in eight.

Campbell has just 1 assist in the last six games.

"Everybody is not going to be able to score at a regular rate all year long," coach Joel Quenneville said. "Everybody has stretches where the pucks are going in for them, and sometimes you have a hard time buying a goal.

"Our power play hasn't been as productive or as effective as it's been for the majority of the season. Kaner, Sharp and Johnny are usually the guys that get our production going, and I think that goes hand in hand."

For a team that appeared to score goals at will earlier, it's usually a different animal in the second half of the season with more teams desperate for points as the playoff picture comes into focus.

The truth is, there are going to be a lot more games like the three gritty ones the Hawks just played against the Rangers (3-2 overtime loss), St. Louis (2-1 OT win) and Minnesota (4-1 loss) than the high-scoring contests from earlier.

"Lately they're all low-scoring affairs," Quenneville said. "More games have been on the line from start to finish, so we've got to be ready to play that game for the second half of the season because that's what it's going to be like from here on in. Don't expect to score 6 or 7 a game."

With a record of just 6-12 in 1-goal games, the Hawks must prove they can win the tight games consistently.

"It's a mind-set," Quenneville said. "We had a stretch where we maybe felt that we're going to be able to score 5 or 6 goals a game, or 7 goals, and that the games are going to be like that. Not in this league.

"Checking is at a premium the second half of the year and the value of the 2 points is gigantic. We've got to be ready to play a tight game from start to finish."

After tonight's game, the Hawks will get six days off for the all-star break, and it looks to be a team that needs some rest.

"I've had a chance to look at a few games now, and I think some of our guys are a little tired," injured defenseman Duncan Keith said. "So this break will be good for a lot of us."