Hawks get production from pair of power-play units

There’s nothing like a little friendly competition between teammates.

It’s happening with the Blackhawks power play, where it’s becoming more and more difficult to differentiate between the first and second units.

It was the second unit of Dave Bolland, Marian Hossa, Troy Brouwer, Brian Campbell and Duncan Keith producing both power-play goals in Wednesday’s win over Minnesota.

“When you have the guys we have, with the ability they have, I think they’re finally finding out where they belong,” said Hawks assistant coach Mike Haviland. “They take the puck to the net an awful lot, that second group, and really keep it simple.

“It’s nice to see each power play unit push each other. When you have two power plays like we do and have two different weapons, you can give them two different looks.”

Jonathan Toews admits the first unit that includes himself, Patrick Kane, Tomas Kopecky, Patrick Sharp and Brent Seabrook could be better.

“The first unit, if you can still call us that, we need to work on that and make sure we’re sharper,” Toews said.

The Hawks went into Friday’s game against Columbus second in the NHL on the power play, connecting at 24.8 percent, but they were 0-for-3 against the Blue Jackets.

Quenneville update:

Mike Haviland said Friday morning there still is no timetable for Joel Quenneville’s return.

Quenneville has been hospitalized since Wednesday with a bleeding ulcer.

“I spoke to him this morning,” Haviland said following Friday’s morning skate. “He’s in great spirits and is actually going a little stir crazy there. He didn’t say anything about when he’s getting out.”

The Hawks played their second game without Quenneville on Friday, and there’s a good chance the ailing head coach also will miss Sunday’s game against Pittsburgh and Monday’s game at St. Louis.

The Wild West:

The Western Conference playoff race can be frustrating for a team such as the Hawks chasing the eighth spot and watching teams ahead of them collect points just about every night.

“We know what we have to do in here,” Patrick Kane said. “When you drop a game here and there it’s tough looking at the standings the next day. We’ve got to try and do that a little as possible.”

Let’s make a deal:

It was a busy trade day around the NHL on Friday.

Defenseman Mark Stuart, who was rumored to be coming to the Hawks, was traded with Blake Wheeler from Boston to Atlanta for Rich Peverley and Boris Valabik.

That deal came after the Bruins acquired defeseman Tomas Kaberle from Toronto for a No. 1 draft pick and prospect Joe Colborne.

The Blues dealt captain Eric Brewer to Tampa Bay for a prospect and third-round pick, while Park Ridge native Craig Anderson was traded from Colorado to Ottawa in a goalie swap for Brian Elliott.