Shaw's play helps Blackhawks keep rolling
On a team loaded with star players, it's easy to overlook Andrew Shaw.
Every team needs guys like Shaw, particularly successful ones: a pest who can get under the skin of the opposition while also contributing significant minutes.
You couldn't help but notice Shaw on Monday night as he scored what turned out to be the winning goal and had an assist in the Blackhawks' 5-2 victory over the Dallas Stars at the United Center.
Shaw doesn't see himself as flying under the radar on a team that is 33-5-4.
“I don't really look at it like that,” Shaw said. “I just go out there and compete as much as I can, battle every shift and try to do the little things right because that's what got me here and it's brought me success.”
Hawks coach Joel Quenneville thinks that after some off games Shaw is back to playing an effective game.
“The last few games or so he's been back to that pace where he's on top of it,” Quenneville said. “He's got some offensive instincts that are good, and he has improved his game defensively and you like his tenacity that he brings.
“That (third) line was very good tonight. Viktor (Stalberg) had a big game, and I thought several guys had good games as well, but that line was noticeable.”
Shaw was out with Patrick Kane when he scored his winning goal, and he capitalized on the situation. He took a pass from Kane and snapped a shot past Stars goalie Richard Bachman at 4:31 of the third period to break a 2-2 tie in a game the Hawks once led 2-0.
“He's a star player, and everyone knows that,” Shaw said. “He pulls a couple guys to him and it makes space for the other guys on the ice. That's why he's been great and been successful. It was a great pass by him.”
Shaw's goal came 1:24 after Jamie Benn tied it with his second goal of the night.
The Blackhawks' power play continued to struggle, however, going 0-for-4. It is 0-for-19 in the last nine games.
At one point in the second period Quenneville put out Michael Frolik, Michal Handzus and Marcus Kruger — three forwards who rarely get power-play time — along with defensemen Nick Leddy and Michal Rozsival.
“The power play, I didn't like the first couple,” Quenneville said. “The second two were much more efficient. We're still looking for some production. We tried some different units; we tried some different looks and different options.
“We'll keep exploring it until it clicks, and we expect it to click. The nice thing is it doesn't disrupt our game.”
The Hawks had taken a 2-0 lead on goals by Jonathan Toews and Stalberg. Toews got his 21st at 12:54 of the first period when he redirected a slap pass from Marian Hossa past Bachman.
Stalberg made it 2-0 at 12:14 of the second period when he took a pass from Michal Handzus and blew around defenseman Phillip Larsen to beat Bachman up high.
“He had it going tonight,” Quenneville said of Stalberg. “When he gets that half a step on a guy, it almost turns into an all alone. He had a couple three times where that speed was dangerous.”
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