Blackhawks get crucial win in Detroit

With time, comes perspective. With age, wisdom.

Such is the case for Vinnie Hinostroza, who was toiling behind the scenes in Florida but then given a fresh chance to prove himself after being traded to the Blackhawks on April 2.

It was a chance he vowed not to waste. And waste it he has not.

Already off to a great start by registering assists in back-to-back games on April 6 and 8, Hinostroza took his game to another level Saturday with 3 more assists during a 4-0 victory at Detroit.

Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat, Wyatt Kalynuk and Pius Suter all scored, and Malcolm Subban - starting for the first time since March 28 - made 29 saves.

The Hawks killed off 3 Detroit power plays in the first period and 6 for the game. The fifth was a 67-second two-man advantage in the third period.

Hinostroza, a Barlett native who was taken in the sixth round by the Hawks in 2012, admitted he may have started taking things for granted over the past year or two.

Sure, he was working hard. But that extra push wasn't there - the push is absolutely necessary for high-energy burners like the 27-year-old.

"You play in the NHL for a while and you think you're just gonna keep playing," Hinostroza said. "You still work hard, but it's kind of that extra level (that was missing). ... That's what got me to this league is playing my heart out, playing as hard as I can, creating energy. Sometimes you tend to get away from that for whatever reason.

"Having the time off in Florida, being with my fiancee and kid, you start thinking about what really matters to you. This is my job and I have to come every day and I want to make the most of it."

That extra effort is what led to the Hawks' first goal as Hinostroza executed a textbook backcheck on Troy Stecher. After swiping the puck from Detroit's veteran D-man, Hinostroza fed a charging Kane with a gorgeous, backhanded pass that went through Marc Staal's legs.

Kane, who had just 3 goals and a 4.5% shooting percentage in the previous 21 games, fired home one of the easiest goals of his career to get the Hawks on the board with 20 seconds left in the first period.

"He's just such a smart player," Hinostroza said. "It's an honor to play with him."

Said coach Jeremy Colliton: "He's been really good for us. The challenge is can he sustain that level? He knew exactly what I expected from him. He's helped whoever he's played with so far."

Hinostroza also assisted on Kalynuk's goal that made it 3-0 early in the third period and Suter's empty netter with 4:33 remaining.

Subban was fantastic in net, fending off a few point-blank shots and standing tall during the Red Wings' nearly 11 minutes on the power play.

"You can't overstate what a great teammate he is," Colliton said. "Obviously it was a big game for us. Multiple times this year he's stepped to the plate and done a great job."

After salvaging a split with the Red Wings, the Hawks (21-19-5) must now be at their absolute best in a three-game series with Nashville. Those three contests are Monday (at Nashville) and Wednesday and Friday (at Chicago).

The fourth-place Predators (24-21-1) have won all five meetings between the teams are have a 2-point lead over the Hawks in the Central Division.

"It's a great opportunity," Colliton said. "It's kind of a playoff series for us. ... Credit to the group that we are here and have the chance to play these types of games.

"It's up to us to prepare as well as we can and give it everything we have this week. It's a fun situation to be in."