Penalty-killers give Hawks some life

When Patrick Sharp and Rene Bourque are on the ice killing penalties for the Blackhawks, they certainly aren't sitting back in a defensive mode.

Sharp and Bourque are thinking attack.

It has paid off with 3 short-handed goals in the last four games, with Bourque's shorty in Friday's 4-2 win over St. Louis the fifth of the season for the Hawks, tying them for the NHL lead.

"Sharp and Bourque have killed for many years here together so they're used to each other, they know where to go and they know where to be," said Hawks coach Denis Savard. "It makes a difference when guys have played together for a few years."

Savard and assistant coach Mark Hardy preach aggressiveness to kill penalties and Sharp has responded to the call. His 3 short-handed goals had him tied for the league lead prior to Saturday's games.

"We want pressure up the ice as much as we can," Savard said.

It was Sharp who helped set up Bourque's short-handed goal 16 seconds into the second period Friday that gave the Hawks a 3-1 lead. Sharp jumped on a Blues defenseman behind the net, forcing a turnover that wound up with teammate Duncan Keith, whose shot hit Bourque and went in the net.

"I just went up the ice as fast as I could and tried to be aggressive like I have been all year and cause a turnover," Sharp said.

"We're forcing turnovers a lot," said Bourque. "Me and Sharpie have been getting on their defense and not giving them much time."

It has been a big turnaround week for Bourque, who now has a goal and 4 assists in the last four games after being a healthy scratch four times since the middle of October.

"I thought I was playing good at the beginning of the season too, but now I'm getting some assists, where at the start of the year they weren't going in," Bourque said. "Hopefully I can keep it going, but I'm just playing my game like I was before."

Savard asked for more from Bourque and lately the coach has been getting it.

"He's played great," Savard said. "He's come around real nice. He's really dug in there and competed in his battles and competed with his puck protection. He's a big man and is moving his feet down low, and as soon as he feels pressure he's getting away from that. It's a credit to him."

Aside from their penalty-killing duties, Sharp and Bourque have worked well with rookie Dave Bolland, who has stepped in following his recall from Rockford and helped solidify the third line. Bolland has 3 assists in the last five games.

Bourque would like to see the line stay together, and it likely will.

"It's nice to be able to get used to guys," Bourque said. "Bolland is a young kid and is playing real well for us. And me and Sharp played together quite a bit the last few years. If they keep this line together, maybe we can produce quite a bit of goals."

Scouting report

Blackhawks vs. Detroit Red Wings, United Center, 6 p.m.

TV: Comcast SportsNet

Radio: WSCR 670-AM

The skinny: The Red Wings have won nine games in a row and are the class of the Western Conference after the first month of the season. Detroit has lost only three times (twice in regulation), with the Hawks handing them two of those defeats. Henrik Zettrerberg has a 16-game points scoring streak, which is the longest in Red Wings history. The Detroit power play is ranked fifth in the NHL. Dominik Hasek is expected to start in goal for the Red Wings while Hawks coach Denis Savard returns to Nikolai Khabibulin.

Player to watch: Henrik Zetterberg. The Detroit left winger led the NHL in scoring going into Saturday's games with 26 points, including 13 goals.

Next game: Wednesday vs. the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena, 6 p.m.

--Tim Sassone