Seabrook hopes production will ramp up in time for postseason

From a goal-scoring standpoint, this hasn't been the best of seasons for Brent Seabrook.

And as a matter of fact - unless he lights the lamp in one of the Blackhawks' last two games - Seabrook is going to set a career low with just 3 goals.

Sunday against Boston, it looked like the veteran defenseman was trying to do everything he could to bust out of his slump as he cranked a whopping 11 shots (5 on goal) toward goalie Anton Khudobin during the Hawks' 3-2 loss.

Afterward, Seabrook - who is close to setting a career high in assists - said he isn't trying to think about his paltry goal total.

"I'm trying to get pucks on the net and create opportunities," said Seabrook, who has scored just once since Nov. 18. "It doesn't seem to want to be going in. It is what it is. Hopefully I'm saving them for the playoffs. That would be nice."

Seabrook was quieter during a 4-3 overtime loss in Colorado on Tuesday, taking 5 shots - 3 on goal. The Hawks built a 3-0 lead on second-period goals by Artemi Panarin, Ryan Hartman and Marcus Kruger, but they proceeded to allow 2 short-handed goals and lost when Erik Johnson scored 1:57 into extra time.

Scott Darling started in net and made 47 saves.

With the top seed in the West wrapped up, Joel Quenneville decided to rest defenseman Duncan Keith. Niklas Hjalmarsson stayed in Chicago because his wife is expecting their second child.

As for Seabrook, there's no doubt he has a knack for saving the offensive side of his game for the most important time of year as his goals-per-game rate nearly doubles from the regular season to the postseason. If Seabrook produced in the regular season the way he does in the playoffs, the big D-man would be an annual 14-goal-a-year scorer. Instead, he averages 7.3.

His production in the Hawks' three title seasons of 2010, '13 and '15 was even more prolific (14 goals in 68 games), but it's also his flair for the dramatic that is so impressive.

• In 2015, fans will remember his triple-overtime winner at the United Center against Nashville in Game 4 of the opening round.

• In 2013, he scored the biggest goal of his career in overtime of Game 7 against Detroit in the conference semifinals at the UC. He followed that up with a huge game-winner in OT in Game 4 of the Cup Final vs. Boston.

• In 2010, Seabrook began a 3-goal, first-period blitz in Game 5 of the Final against the Flyers by scoring the first goal in a 7-4 victory.

Last postseason, Seabrook had just 1 goal against the Blues - a series the Hawks dropped in seven games - but what if his double-post clanker had found the back of the net late in Game 7? The Hawks just may have advanced and used that momentum to make another deep run.

The bottom line is the Hawks need Seabrook to find his scoring touch in the coming weeks, and based on his history, it's safe to say that he'll do just that.

• Follow John on Twitter @johndietzdh

By the numbers

Brent Seabrook's regular-season and postseason stats since the Hawks first won the Cup in 2010:

Regular

season Playoffs

Season GP / G GP / G

2009-10 78 / 4 22 / 4

2010-11 82 / 9 5 / 0

2011-12 78 / 9 6 / 1

2012-13 47 / 8 23 / 3

2013-14 82 / 7 16 / 3

2014-15 82 / 8 23 / 7

2015-16 81 / 14 7 / 1

2016-17 77 / 3 ? / ?