Fourth line helps shoot down Ducks
Call it another big night for many of the Blackhawks' best players, but it was the fourth line that got the ball rolling at the United Center on Friday.
Jamal Mayers opened the scoring early in the first period, capping a terrific shift with linemates Andrew Brunette and John Scott, and that's really all goalie Ray Emery and the Hawks needed in a 4-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks.
“Usually our top guys do all the heavy lifting so when our fourth line or third line chip in a goal, guys build off that a little bit because we only get three or four shifts a period,” Scott said. “You can feel the energy when you go back to the bench.”
Scott was named the game's second star and Mayers the third behind Emery. It was the first time in Scott's NHL career that he was named one of the game's three stars.
Mayers also fought Matt Beleskey late after delivering a huge check on Cam Fowler that Beleskey didn't appreciate. In addition to his goal, Mayers finished with 3 hits and won 7 of 9 faceoffs.
“We might not even be secondary (scorers), we might be third tier,” joked Mayers. “But obviously if we can chip in now and again it's certainly a boost for our team. It's not necessarily our job, but it feels good when you score.”
Emery made 24 saves against his old team, losing what would have been his first shutout with the Hawks with 1:47 to play. Emery ran his record to 8-1-2.
“I think he's regaining his form,” Mayers said. “You can see that inner confidence in him and the team's playing well in front of him right now. We just want to keep rolling.”
Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa each had a goal and assist and Dave Bolland chipped in a power-play goal as the Hawks improved to 44 points, tying Minnesota not only for first place in the Western Conference but first place in the NHL's overall standings.
The Hawks (20-8-4) have won four in a row and have points (13) in seven straight games, 11 of them coming with Emery in goal.
“We've got some momentum here and want to make sure we go into the (Christmas) break on a positive note,” coach Joel Quenneville said.
It was a big night for Scott, who moved up from defense to play left wing on the fourth line. Not only did he assist on Mayers' goal, he found his long-awaited first fight of the season against the Ducks' Wade Brookbank and won easily.
Scott's last fight was in February against Minnesota's Brad Staubitz.
“It's been so long, jeez, I can't even remember,” Scott said. “I've been so rusty. It's been a tough go so I was excited. I've been asking, but it just hasn't happened.”
The Hawks took advantage of some sloppy goaltending by Anaheim's Jonas Hiller to build a 2-0 lead on goals by Mayers and Hossa.
Poor goaltending has been only one of many problems for the Ducks, who after being in nearly everyone's preseason predictions to make the playoffs are 9-17-5 despite a 4-1 start.