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Quenneville wants team to stay focused

SUNRISE, Fla. - Eleven days ago, the Blackhawks were clinging to a 1-point lead over the Minnesota Wild in the Central Division, and a two-point lead over the San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference.

Then the wheels fell off in Minnesota and San Jose.

The Wild lost for the ninth time in their last 11 games on Saturday, a dismal 4-2 defeat to the Vancouver Canucks. And the Sharks entered Saturday night's game in Nashville mired in a five-game losing streak. That gave the Hawks an eight-point lead on Minnesota, and an 11-point lead on San Jose. In other words, barring a catastrophic collapse, the Hawks have the top seed in the Western Conference all but wrapped up.

• For full story, check chicago.suntimes.com.