In his debut, Hossa clicks quickly with Toews, Kane
ANAHEIM, Calif. - Marian Hossa sat at his locker stall in the middle of the Blackhawks' dressing room at HP Pavilion late Wednesday night, looking almost larger than life.
Hossa had just scored 2 goals in his Hawks' debut, a 7-2 rout of the Sharks, and was explaining to reporters how the goals were a "bonus" on top of just getting out on the ice with his new teammates.
If this is what $62.8 million buys, there could be some memorable days ahead for a franchise that hasn't won a Stanley Cup in 48 years.
"It was a bonus that I scored the goals," Hossa said. "I was looking just to get into game shape, get my legs going and make simple plays. It's going to give me more confidence and more jump."
Working with linemates Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane was everything Hossa expected.
"We had some great shifts and cycled really well," Hossa said. "It seems like the chemistry is there. Obviously, it's just the first game and we're going to try to get better."
The win pulled the Hawks within 2 points of the Sharks for first place in the Western Conference and the NHL's overall standings.
"This was a good test for us and we passed this test," Hossa said. "We proved we're a really good team too. We proved we can play against anybody."
Been here before: The Hawks can tie the team record of 9 straight wins they set last season today with a victory over the Ducks.
While this year's streak is basically happening at the same time of the season (last year's began Dec. 7), defenseman Duncan Keith sees a difference in the 2009-10 Hawks.
"I definitely feel - there's a little more maturity in our game and maybe off the ice," Keith said. "We had a good season last year and made some strides in the playoffs. Going as far as we did we realized it's not enough. Playing well in the regular season is one thing and winning everything in the playoffs is another thing.
"We're not going to get ahead of ourselves here. We realize we can keep getting better."
High praise: Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle said Thursday that today's game against the Hawks is probably the biggest challenge of the season for his team.
"You have to be prepared to play a very, very high-paced game," Carlyle told the Orange County Register. "It's an elite hockey club."
Sharks coach Todd McLellan knows what Carlyle means after Wednesday's 7-2 loss to the Hawks.
"You turn the puck over, you fall asleep for a minute or two, and they're gone," McLellan said.
Center of attention: Defenseman Brian Campbell enjoys the fact he still gets booed by Sharks fans every time he touches the puck in games at HP Pavilion for leaving as a free agent. "Wait until Buffalo," Campbell said.
That game Dec. 11 will be Campbell's first back in Buffalo since he was traded by the Sabres to the Sharks when they knew he wasn't going to re-sign with them as a free agent.