Over All-Star weekend, Blackhawks Vice President Peter Wirtz said he was pulling for the Nashville Predators to hang on for their first playoff appearance.
Wirtz’s Hawks could dash those hopes, however. Playing the role of spoiler in the last two months of the season, the Hawks dealt Nashville its third straight loss with a convincing 5-2 victory before an announced crowd of 10,367 at the United Center.
It was the second consecutive victory for the Hawks, the first time they have won back-to-back games since the first week of November. It was also their third straight victory this season against Nashville, which is clinging to the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
After having a popgun offense for much of the season, the Hawks have scored four or more goals in four straight games. Alex Zhamnov, Mark Bell and Bryan Berard each collected a goal and an assist Wednesday.
The offense has seemed to come to life since Zhamnov returned to the lineup. He has 17 points in 21 games.
“He’s a special hockey player and one of the elite players in the league, and it shows the last month,” Steve Sullivan said.
Berard’s ninth goal of the season on a power-play strike late in the first period gave the Hawks a 2-1 lead. Mark Bell tied the game with a long blast that went through Nashville goalie Tomas Vokoun at 15 minutes 54 seconds of the first period.
The Hawks chased the All-Star goalie midway through the second period. Vokoun allowed five goals on 18 shots after letting 4 of 12 get past him during Sunday’s All-Star Game.
Nashville had taken a 1-0 lead on a Denis Arkhipov goal at 4:07 of the first.
Berard’s goal was the first of two power-play goals for the Hawks, the first time they have scored on two power plays in a game since Jan. 12 and the sixth time they have done it this season.
When they look back on this season, one of the big failures will be the power play. But lately it has been showing signs of life and giving the Hawks a chance to win games.
For the season, it still is ranked 28th in the league at 11.8 percent. But in the last nine games, the power play is 8-for-43, good for 18.1 percent.
