Teams have had nearly a season and a half to adjust to the new NHL standards for determining penalties.
But lifetime habits can be hard to break, as the Blackhawks have shown at times the last two weeks.
Tuesday was the third time in the last six games the Hawks had been short-handed at least eight times. Somehow the Hawks have won two of those games, but it’s not suggested for long-term success.
“It’s about habits,” coach Denis Savard said. “We can’t afford to take seven or eight penalties a game, especially on the road.”
Last season the Hawks endured the second-most short-handed situations in the NHL, opponents averaging 6.7 power plays. This season they have done a slightly better job staying out of the penalty box. Through 39 games, the Hawks have been short-handed 224 times, seventh most in the league, or an average of 5.7 times per game.
Conversely, they have had just 188 power plays, an average of 4.8 per game.
The Hawks are 16th in the NHL killing penalties with an 82.6 percent success rate. On the road they’re 24th at 78.2 percent.
The Hawks were short-handed five times in the first 10 minutes of Tuesday’s 4-1 victory over the Blues and were down two men three times. Considering that, they were fortunate to trail only 1-0 in a game they won with four third-period goals.
Being short-handed that much puts extra strain on the goaltender and keeps some players on the ice too much and others playing hardly at all. Savard said it’s up to the coaches as well as the players to avoid penalties.
“As coaches, we have to keep reminding them,” he said.
Hawks prospect sinks U.S.
Jonathan Toews, the third overall pick by the Blackhawks in last summer’s NHL entry draft, scored three times in the shootout to lead Canada to a 2-1 victory over the U.S. in the semifinals of the world juniors championship Wednesday in Sweden.
The 6-foot-2-inch center, a sophomore at North Dakota, has been one of Canada’s best players throughout the tournament despite a so-so second season at North Dakota.
One-timers
The Hawks got just their third power-play goal in seven games Tuesday when Martin Lapointe scored into an empty net with 42 seconds left. They went 1 of 7 with the man advantage and remain last in the NHL at 11.7 percent. . . . Savard put Tuomo Ruutu at center with Peter Bondra and Martin Havlat on his wings at practice Wednesday. Savard said Ruutu, as a right-handed shot, perhaps could utilize Havlat better on the left wing. Ruutu and Havlat have been on the same line before, on the wings with Bryan Smolinski at center. . . . Rene Bourque’s bruised ankle kept him out of the game Tuesday and practice Wednesday.
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rfoltman@tribune.com
