Blackhawks hand Oilers 11th straight loss, 4-2

EDMONTON, Alberta - The Blackhawks have been where the Edmonton Oilers are now as one of the worst teams in the NHL.

"That was a bad team for a long time," Oilers coach Pat Quinn said of the Hawks. "But their drafting was good, their coaching has helped in putting them together, and their goaltending is solid."

The Hawks came here Tuesday night looking to kick the Oilers when they're down, and they succeeded in taking care of business with a 4-2 win at Rexall Place. It was the 11th straight loss for the Oilers, who are 1-16-2 in their last 19 games.

"I've never quite seen anything like this, not as a coach, anyway," Quinn said. "We're close, but we still find a way not to get it done."

The Hawks didn't have their "A" game, but they didn't need it to beat the staggering Oilers. They took a 4-0 lead, then coasted the rest of the way.

"There wasn't much atmosphere in the building tonight," Hawks captain Jonathan Toews said. "I wouldn't say that's an excuse, but some flat games you've got to find a way to motivate yourselves."

It was all Hawks from the get-go with Toews scoring 44 seconds into the game on a wrist shot through goalie Jeff Deslauries from Patrick Kane, capping a 3-on-2.

The Hawks toyed with the Oilers in the second period, getting goals from Troy Brouwer at 5:50, Dustin Byfuglien at 10:14 and Marian Hossa on a power play at 13:53.

Kane had a dazzling game, setting up Brouwer's goal as well after skating around and through three Oilers.

"He was special tonight," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "He made plays and was patient with the puck. He was a threat. You really noticed Kaner tonight. I still liked our puck-possession game. Kane had the puck a lot, and Hossa, I thought, had another strong game."

Byfuglien's goal, a tip-in of a Duncan Keith shot with Kris Versteeg also assisting, registered the first points of the road trip in six games for the line of John Madden, Versteeg and Byfuglien.

"It was nice that line did get some production," Quenneville said. "I thought they were better."

The Hawks are 4-2 on their eight-game road trip and have assured themselves of coming home .500 at the worst. They also moved 13 points ahead of Nashville for first place in the Central Division and pulled back within 2 points of San Jose for the top spot in the Western Conference standings.

The Hawks play the Sharks on Thursday at HP Pavilion. "This sets up a chance to tie for first," Quenneville said.

Cristobal Huet was mostly solid, making 22 saves in his first start in a week.

<p class="factboxheadblack">Tim Sassone's game tracker</p>

<p class="News">Blackhawks 4, Oilers 2</p>

<p class="News"><b>Three stars:</b></p>

<p class="News">1. Patrick Kane, Hawks: Set up the first 2 goals and had a special night.</p>

<p class="News">2. Duncan Keith, Hawks: Plus-3 with 2 assists in a typically strong game from the defenseman.</p>

<p class="News">3. Brent Seabrook, Hawks: It was men against boys with Keith and Seabrook on the ice against the struggling Oilers.</p>

<p class="News"><b>Are you kidding me? </b>The Hawks were credited with just 6 hits.</p>

<p class="News"><b>Slipping a bit:</b> The Hawks aren't winning faceoffs like earlier in the year, losing 52 percent to the Oilers.</p>

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