Blackhawks have no problem working overtime
The Boston Bruins learned Friday night you don't want to play extra time with the Blackhawks.
The Hawks continued to be money when the game goes beyond regulation with a 5-4 shootout win over the Bruins at the United Center.
Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane scored on their attempts as the Hawks went 2-for-2 in the shootout and now are 8-0-3 in overtime this season with 7 of those victories coming at home.
"It's not over until it's over," Toews said of the Hawks' success in overtime and shootouts. "We have that attitude that even if we're coming from behind, or like tonight when a team evens it up - that's the best thing about our team. We can really scramble and find ways to win tight games."
The Hawks outshot the Bruins 17-7 in the third period and it appeared Andrew Ladd's goal with 12:19 to play that snapped a 3-3 tie would hold up.
But Boston's David Krejci got his second goal of the night with 2:43 remaining on an Antti Niemi rebound.
Hawks coach Joel Quenneville opted to let the Bruins go first in the shootout and Niemi made a nice stop on Patrice Bergeron.
Toews then beat Bruins goalie Tim Thomas with a snap shot. The Hawks' captain is 4-for-6 in shootouts this season and 10-for-18 for his career.
"I've got a couple moves that have been working and I'm trying to use those while they last before anybody can figure them out," Toews joked. "A lot of guys can get pretty creating going down there, but for me it's just trying what works and little things you might work on in practice.
"It makes a big difference when you look at the amount of shootouts we've been in this year. If you lose all of them, that's a lot of points."
Speaking of points, the Hawks moved 2 ahead of Nashville for sole possession of first place in the Central Division.
Kane ended the game, tucking a backhander through Thomas, after Boston's Blake Wheeler hit the post.
It's been a while since the Hawks were in a back-and-forth offensive game, but they have proved they can win in any number of ways.
"You've got to be able to win any game in order to learn and build from these things," Kris Versteeg said.
Versteeg, Patrick Sharp and Toews each scored their 10th goals in regulation.
The Hawks got a big game from Brian Campbell with his defense partner Niklas Hjalmarsson sidelined by the flu. Campbell played almost 28 minutes and assisted on Ladd's goal.
"Soupy had a special game," Quenneville said.
<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=345371">Canada's Yzerman likes what he sees from Hawks <span class="date"> [12/18/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <p class="factboxheadblack">Tim Sassone's game tracker</p> <p class="News">Blackhawks 5, Bruins 4</p> <p class="News"><b>Three stars</b></p> <p class="News">1. Brian Campbell, Hawks: Played almost 28 minutes, blocked 2 shots and assisted on Andrew Ladd's third period goal.</p> <p class="News">2. Jonathan Toews, Hawks: One goal in regulation and another in the shootout for the captain.</p> <p class="News">3. David Krejci, Bruins: Two goals, including the tying score with 2:43 left in regulation.</p> <p class="News"><b>Key stats</b></p> <p class="News">The Hawks outshot the Bruins 44-29 and outhit them 32-20.</p> <p class="News">Back to Earth Hawks goalie Antti Niemi didn't have the best night, fumbling several rebounds, but he was good enough to win his record to 7-1-1.</p>