Hossa, Heatley frustrated by lack of goals

SAN JOSE, Calif. - They are two of the best goal scorers in hockey, but the Blackhawks' Marian Hossa and the Sharks' Dany Heatley went into Game 2 of the Western Conference finals Tuesday night with just 2 goals each in the playoffs.

Hossa didn't score again, but he contributed a key assist in the third period on a goal by Troy Brouwer in the Hawks' 4-2 win at HP Pavilion.

"It's definitely bugging me that the puck is not going in," Hossa said. "I've got to try and shoot everything at the net and make plays and I'm sure sooner or later they have to go in.

"Sometimes you need just a little break and the puck goes in. It is in my head and it's bugging me because I like to score goals, but things are not going my way right now. I'm trying not to put too much pressure on myself because it's not going to do any good, right?"

Hossa isn't scoring goals, but his overall game has been top-notch. He has 11 points in 14 games and is plus-7.

His pressure on the backcheck has been outstanding to the point where the Sharks talked about the need to be more aware of him coming from behind.

"The contribution he gives our team is noticeable," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "His 5-on-5 responsibility, offensive zone and defensive zone, he's rock solid. He kills penalties and plays the power play and gives us a lot of puck-possession time as well."

Quenneville called Hossa one of the most consistent Hawks.

"His thought process and how he plays our system and team game is as good as anybody," Quenneville said. "He's always consistently one of the players we appreciate how he plays.

"Productivity is something that sometimes gets down, but a guy like that on any night can break out and be a big factor offensively."

Heatley had an assist but only 2 shots and no goals Tuesday despite playing 23 minutes.

In Heatley's case, he is not helping the Sharks like Hossa helps the Hawks if he is not scoring goals. Heatley has just 2 goals in his last 19 games going back to the regular season.

Sharks coach Todd McLellan said Monday he needed Heatley to start scoring but didn't single him out any more than linemates Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau.

"Obviously our job is to score goals and produce numbers, and that's what we have to do," Heatley said.

Marleau had both San Jose goals in Game 2.

Hossa teammates aren't worried about him breaking out of it at some point in the series.

"He's getting his chances and he's playing really well defensively, a lot of stripping of the puck and getting a lot of shots, too," Patrick Kane said. "Sometimes when you go through those slumps it's only a matter of time before you break out, and usually when you do break out is when you're getting those chances and a lot of shots."