Los Angeles right wing Kelly Buchberger put the first month of the Blackhawks’ season in context after they concluded their five-game homestand with a 5-1 victory Tuesday night in the United Center.
“The Blackhawks are playing great,” said Buchberger. “We’ve got to play like them.”
You probably have to go back to the early ’90s to find the last time somebody used the Hawks as role models.
But take it from Kings coach Andy Murray: “The Hawks are on a roll. They’re playing very well.”
The Hawks are going into Thursday night’s rematch in the Staples Center with an eight-game undefeated streak (5-0-3), their longest since 1995-96 when they went 8-0-1 from Dec. 17-Jan. 2.
“There isn’t a team in the National Hockey League that wouldn’t take what we’ve done in the last five games,” said Hawks coach Brian Sutter, looking back on victories over defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado, Calgary, San Jose and the Kings and Sunday’s tie with Boston.
The way Sutter sees it, the Hawks’ accomplishments in October could very likely have April playoff ramifications.
“The only game we’ve played so far that wasn’t against a team in our [Western] conference is the Boston game,” said Sutter, who has installed a system and instilled a work ethic in his first season. “These are all four-point games and, as coaches, we want to make sure our players are aware of it and talk about it. Points in October mean the same as points in April.”Can the Hawks keep going?
Goaltender Jocelyn Thibault, who has played all but 33 minutes this season, thinks they can.
“This year, as a team, no matter who we play against we’re confident if we play our game we’ll win,” he said. “Confidence is a big factor.”
Thursday’s game will be the first of three in four nights. The Hawks play Friday night in Anaheim before returning home for a Sunday night game against Central Division leader Detroit.
“These are big games for us,” said Thibault. “Los Angeles and Anaheim are chasing us–we have to put them as far away from us as we can.”
Four off-season acquisitions–center Igor Korolev, right wing Steve Thomas, defenseman Jon Klemm and defenseman Phil Housley–have been living up to the high expectations of Sutter and general manager Mike Smith. After a slow start Korolev, Thomas and their left wing, rookie Mark Bell, have been scoring with regularity.
Klemm, who was a member of Colorado’s Stanley Cup team last season, has a team-best plus/minus rating of plus-14 and Bell is the NHL’s top rookie scorer with 11 points on three goals and eight assists. Kyle Calder, who spent the first half of last season in the minors, also has turned into an impact player, collecting six goals and six assists while skating on the first line with Alex Zhamnov and Tony Amonte.
“We’re a pretty good mix,” said Amonte. “Alex and I prefer the rush. Kyle likes it in the corners and down behind the goal. Not many guys can control the puck along the boards the way Kyle can. It’s a skill.
“Kyle always has been like that. Now it just seems like he has a little more confidence. He realizes he has a job here.”
Of the players who were with the Hawks last October, left wing Eric Daze has made the most dramatic statistical improvement in the first month. At this time last year he had one goal and one assist and he ended October and began November scratched from the lineup by ex-coach Alpo Suhonen. Thinking he had no future in Chicago, Daze demanded a trade.
Not moving Daze was perhaps the best decision that Smith made last season. Daze overcame the dismal start to have a career year (33 goals, 24 assists) and now he’s off to a superb start with eight goals and six assists in the first 13 games.
“I have a lot of confidence right now,” said Daze.
During the first month of the Hawks’ season, confidence has been very contagious.
