Sure is nice for Hawks to get first 'W' out of the way
Not to be too dramatic here, but Saturday night was a must-win game for the Blackhawks in the United Center.OK, so maybe that is too dramatic considering this was just Game 2 of an 82-game NHL schedule.But the Hawks did lose their season opener the night before and the possibility of also losing the home opener the night after made this sort of, kind of, perhaps, maybe a big game.#8220;For sure, for sure,#8221; Hawks' captain Jonathan Toews agreed.Losing back-to-back to open the season wouldn't have been a good idea. Not after what happened last season when the Hawks tried unsuccessfully to defend their Stanley Cup championship.The Hawks started the 2010-11 season slowly, a nice word for poorly, and much of that was due to being ineffective at home.Before the Hawks knew it, six months later they needed help to make the playoffs on the final night of the season, had to play the top-seeded Canucks in the first round and lost a decisive seventh game in Vancouver.Start badly again and the worries of the world suddenly would begin weighing on the Hawks. The pressure would mount, the games would get critical too soon and the sawdust would start squeezing out of their sticks.Wait too long just to get that first victory and it becomes more and more difficult to achieve.Not to worry about that now, though, because the Hawks beat the Dallas Stars 5-2 in the home opener, evened their record to 1-1 and can go on from here with clear minds and loose bodies.For now the drama is over, or at least suspended. You can put it on the board #8212; yes! #8212; and that first thing first thing is out of the way.Otherwise, the Hawks don't play again until Thursday and in the meantime head coach Joel Quenneville might have been tempted to skate his players into practice pulp.Best news of all is that the Hawks not only beat the Stars but they looked good doing it.No overtime was needed. No shootout, either. Just a nice, tidy, crisp pounding of the Stars into submission.#8220;We did some good things throughout the game,#8221; Quenneville said.The Hawks didn't allow Dallas a shot on goal until halfway through the first period and the Stars had only 2 shots by the first intermission.The much-advertised physical play surfaced in the first period when new heavyweight Jamal Mayers squared off with former Hawk Jake Dowell and slammed him to the ice.The Hawks also played well offensively, outshooting Dallas 31-21 and getting goals from some of the players who are paid to supply them #8212; newcomer Andrew Brunette and holdovers Toews, Dave Bolland (2) and Patrick Sharp.#8220;We were in similar situations last year early in the season, up by a goal or two,#8221; Toews said. #8220;Then we lost the two points. We were determined not to do that this year and we didn't tonight.#8221;Let's not get too dramatic over the victory. This wasn't a perfect performance by any means.But let's not quibble either. One game doesn't make a fast start but it's a lot better than a lost weekend and a long wait wondering whether this is last autumn all over again.If this wasn't a must-win game, it's good that the Hawks didn't wait so long to record a victory that must-win games became a reality.