Hawks after 30: Opportunity Knocks

After 30 games, the Chicago Blackhawks sit in second place in the Central Division and tops among the non-division leaders in the Gretzky Conference with an 18-9-3 record, good for 39 points. That's a performance many teams would love to emulate, but still leaves Hawks coach Gerald Gallant and his players wanting more.

"We've been good so far, but there's another level we can get to if we stick to what works," said Gallant, whose club suffered it's worst third-period performance on Monday night in a rare home 5-2 loss against the Buffalo Sabres. "It's a tough league but we've proven when we're on top of things, we're tough to beat. We just need that consistency every time we take the ice."

It's a sentiment that captain Jonathan Toews echoes. The 30-year-old leads the Blackhawks with 15 goals this season, but his two assists against the Sabres were the first points he's earned in the past seven games.

"It starts from the top and that's me," said Toews. "Obviously the guys in here have been battling and playing well. But I need to be more consistent myself. Can't take long stretches without producing. It's just not acceptable."

Toews may be taking it on the head, but prior to the debacle against Buffalo, Chicago had outscored its opponents 22-10 on a 6-1-0 run. The Hawks are still only three points shy of Nashville for the division lead but have just a two-point cushion on the emerging Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars.

Newcomer Alex Steen, acquired from Winnipeg ten days ago, has helped stabilize the offensive and defensive approach with five points (2-3-5) in four games and has helped to contribute to an 8-for-9 stretch on the penalty kill over the past three games.

Craig Smith and Colton Sissons, both acquired in the historic 17-player transaction with the New York Rangers earlier this month, have both contributed four points in ten games.

Tuukka Rask, the centerpiece of that massive trade, has been solid if not spectacular in eight games with Chicago. His 4-3-1 record along with a 2.74 GAA and .913 save percentage has been respectable as the 31-year-old netminder adjusts to his new team.

One of the most surprising stories has been the play of Curtis McElhinney, who's earned ten starts in the club's first 30 games due to his stellar play. He leads the entire EHE in shutouts with four, and sports video-game like numbers with an anemic 1.30 GAA and a sizeable .948 save percentage to go along with a 7-3-0 record.

"Curtis has been outstanding," said Chicago center Jordan Staal. "To come in and play on an irregular schedule and just shut the door almost every time he goes out there, it's great to see."

McElhinney understands he was brought in to be a backup but hasn't approached his role in that manner.

"I just go out there and play the best I can whenever I get the opportunity," said the 35-year-old veteran goaltender. "We've got a heck of a club here and it's been a pleasure doing whatever I can to help, whether that's on the bench or on the ice."

The top players have been playing like top players, for the most part, as Cam Atkinson (12-21-33), Reilly Smith (11-14-25), Staal (9-15-24), Erik Haula (8-14-22), and Andrew Cogliano (7-9-16) have led the charge among forwards, while Jake Muzzin (2-25-27, second among all EHE defensemen in points), Matt Niskanen (6-12-18), Calvin de Haan (0-9-9, +9) and Derek Forbort (2-6-8, +6) lead the rearguards. Newcomer Dan Girardi has also chipped in four points in ten games.

"I think opportunity is knocking at the door - we just need to answer it," said Blackhawks GM Thomas Gidlow. "It's a tight race as it usually is, but we've got the club to break through. I think we all feel like there's a great shot here to do something special."

"But it's like Coach Gallant says. When we're on our game, we're tough to beat. We just need to be on our game, every game."

Chip Whitley
Blackhawks Beat Reporter