Chicago Blackhawks pouring on the offense
Look out, Western Conference.
After a head-scratching 7-7-2 start to the season, the suddenly smoking-hot Chicago Blackhawks are beginning to look a lot like a team nobody wants to face.
The Hawks absolutely blitzkrieged the Anaheim Ducks on Monday at the United Center, scoring 6 goals in the first two periods - 3 coming off the stick of rookie Alex DeBrincat - en route to a 7-3 victory. Patrick Sharp, Brandon Saad, Artem Anisimov and Nick Schmaltz also scored for a Hawks squad that is 5-1-1 in the last seven games.
That recent 12-game stretch where the Hawks scored just 23 goals must seem like a bad dream because now everything's clicking, nearly everyone's contributing offensively and anything seems possible with 59 games remaining.
If this hot streak continues, don't be surprised to see the Hawks (12-8-3, 27 points) start to challenge the Blues (35 points), Jets (33) and Predators (31) for the top three spots in the Central Division.
Sharp gave the Hawks a 1-0 lead at 8:57 of the first period when he one-timed a shot past John Gibson after a perfect feed from Ryan Hartman. The goal snapped a 16-game pointless streak for Sharp, which tied a career high that went back to his rookie season in Philadelphia.
"Seems like the last four or five games I've had a prime chance like that and either hit the post or missed my shot or the goalie made a good save," Sharp said. "So just tried to keep the thoughts together and not get too upset about it."
DeBrincat, who also had an assist, made it 2-0 at 16:11 of the first by wristing home a shot after taking a pass from Schmaltz. Less than two minutes later, Saad made it 3-0, and the rout was on.
DeBrincat made it 5-1 and 6-2 with a pair of second-period goals that came less than seven minutes apart. The soon-to-be 20-year-old rookie is the second-youngest player in Hawks history to record a hat trick, behind Jeremy Roenick by only four days.
DeBrincat is just 23 games into his NHL career, but it might not be too early to say that at No. 39 overall he was the steal of the 2016 draft. He has 9 goals in the last 11 games and 10 overall.
"He's a great player," Sharp said. "You could tell that in training camp, whenever he got the puck he just has poise with it and he's looking to make a play. I said earlier he was playing like he's in junior hockey still, and that's a compliment.
"He's looking to make those plays, he's not intimidated at all by the speed or the pace of the game, and you can see the results."
Said coach Joel Quenneville: "Special night for him. He finds the net, he sees pucks, he gets himself available. Puck follows him around."
The Ducks, who fell to 10-10-4, were playing without the injured Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler. They replaced Gibson shortly after he let up Anisimov's goal 4:15 into the second period.
Scouting report
Blackhawks vs. Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena, 7 p.m. Tuesday
TV: NBCSN
Radio: 720-AM
The skinny: Nashville is 6-1-1 since acquiring Kyle Turris from Ottawa in a three-team trade. The addition of Turris - the third overall pick in 2007 - gives the Predators an impressive group of forwards that features Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen, Viktor Arvidsson, Kevin Fiala and Craig Smith. Forsberg leads the team in scoring with 11 goals and 13 assists. Arvidsson has 6 goals in the last 11 games, while Smith has 5 in the last 10. … Nashville's D corps is one of the most dangerous in the league and is led by P.K. Subban (4G, 14A), Roman Josi (5-10) and Mattias Ekholm (6-9). … The only Hawks D-men with double-digit points are Duncan Keith and Jan Rutta, who had 12 and 10 heading into Monday's game against Anaheim. … The Hawks beat Nashville 2-1 in overtime Oct. 14, then lost by the same score in regulation Oct. 27.
Next: Dallas Stars at United Center, 7:30 p.m. Thursday
- John Dietz