The Blackhawks have entered March like a lion because they are taking something to heart that they have been hearing since September.
In winning six of their last eight games — including their first three games this month against top Western Conference opponents — the Hawks have made a surge toward the postseason in large measure because they have dramatically cut down on turnovers.
“We have addressed it since training camp,” Hawks coach Denis Savard said. “We kept pounding it into their heads: If you turn the puck over you’re never in position to play defense. Our turnovers, by far, are the most improved thing. “
The Hawks have allowed just three goals this month in victories over Vancouver, Minnesota and Anaheim. In their victory Thursday night over the Ducks they allowed 19 shots on rookie goaltender Corey Crawford, and in the triumph Sunday over the Canucks they allowed just 10 shots. The Hawks have to look no further than their lack of turnovers for their recent success.
“In certain situations we’ve realized if there’s no play we’re not trying to force anything and make something happen out of nothing,” rookie center Jonathan Toews said. “We’re just being smart with the puck.”
The Hawks’ coaching staff implemented a “5-foot rule” at the blue lines. That means if the Hawks have the puck five feet in their own zone they chip it out and if they have it five feet inside an opponents’ zone they send the puck in deep.
“If you turn it over in those areas sometimes that’s when it ends up in the back of your net,” Toews said. “We’ve been smart that way. Everyone’s buying into the system right now.”
The Hawks’ concerted effort on cutting down on turnovers has moved them into 20th in the league in goals-allowed at 2.79 per game.
“Everybody’s a little bit more conscious of it and a little bit more responsible as far as the offense goes,” veteran center Robert Lang said. “If you have the room or the right time for making a play, do it. If not, everybody’s more responsible with the puck in getting it out of the zone or into the zone. The neutral zones that can create a lot of offense for the other team are eliminated.”
Though the coaches have been preaching the system for months, the players recently began holding their teammates accountable for turning pucks over.
“No one wants to be that guy who turns the puck over and is getting yelled at on the bench while the team is looking at you,” rookie winger Patrick Kane said. “We’re all playing for each other now. There are a lot of players who want to do the right things to make sure we get to the playoffs.”
Included in those things is playing and paying the price of good defense. Against the defending champion Ducks the Hawks had 13 takeaways and 14 blocked shots to Anaheim’s four and six.
“Our biggest thing right now is how hard we’re working,” Kane said. “Everyone’s finishing their checks. We had 28 hits on Anaheim, which was supposed to be a physical team, and we pretty much took it to them. We have a good feeling in the room right now. We’re confident and we have to take this high and keep going with it.”
With 15 games remaining, nine of them at United Center, the Hawks are making a strong run and to a man believe they have it in them to reach the postseason.
“When you’re with those kids every day they make you a believer,” Savard said. “Even sometimes if I had a doubt you go back into that room and there’s no doubt. This is a special group. They’ll go to war for each other.”
———-
ckuc@tribune.com
