Hawks take advantage of hapless Blue Jackets

The Blackhawks did what they were supposed to do Thursday night — kick a bad team while it’s down.

Playing the worst team in the NHL, the Hawks jumped on the Columbus Blue Jackets early and never took their foot off the gas in a 6-3 win at Nationwide Arena.

There was a lot to like about what the Hawks did, even if it came against the now 2-12-1 Blue Jackets.

Jonathan Toews scored twice, Andrew Brunette and Steve Montador each scored power-play goals and the defense was more active in the offense that in any game this season.

“All our defense was better at that tonight,” said Duncan Keith, who was plus-3 with an assist. “We have some (defensemen) who can skate and carry the puck. It’s one of the strengths of our team.”

Both goals by Toews in the first period resulted from rushes up the ice by defensemen — Brent Seabrook on the first and Nick Leddy on the second.

“I thought our defense was very noticeable tonight coming out of our zone,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “It led to some goals because our defense was activated. Our lines had better rotation, but our defense spearheaded the attack.”

It was the power-play goals by Brunette and Montador, coming back-to-back early, in the second period that broke the game open, giving the Hawks a 4-1 lead.

The power play came into the night ranked last in the league thanks to a 1-for-30 stretch over the previous eight games.

“You get your power play going and all of a sudden you get some excitement in your team game,” Quenneville said.

Brunette’s goal was his third of the season, all on the power play. It wasn’t pretty as he dug out a rebound and flipped it over goalie Steve Mason with Montador and Marcus Kruger creating traffic.

Montador’s goal came from in front. Quenneville decided to try the defenseman there for Thursday’s game to shake things up and it paid off.

“I wanted to have success,” Montador said. “I didn’t picture this exactly, but I definitely wanted to be part of it.”

Montador was engaged much of the night in his best game with the Hawks. He also had a fight in the first period, giving him the so-called Gordie Howe hat trick, which consists of a goal, an assist and a fight.

“It’s good to see,” Keith said, “because he’s a great guy to have and a great guy in the locker room.”

The Blue Jackets didn’t start badly, but Toews’ second goal from a bad angle was one Mason should have stopped.

“That wasn’t a very good goal,” said Columbus coach Scott Arniel, who could be in his final days behind the bench.

Mason’s play has been poor all season and a big reason for the Blue Jackets’ nightmarish start.

Columbus has lost three straight and been outscored 19-6. The Blue Jackets were coming off a 9-2 loss at Philadelphia last Saturday.

“We looked like a group that is very fragile,” Arniel said.

The Hawks snapped their three-game winless streak without center Dave Bolland, who sat with an injury to his right foot. Bolland also is questionable for Friday’s game against Calgary at the United Center.

tsassone@dailyherald.com