“Were playing great hockey, if we keep playing that way we know the goals are going to come,” said Jonathan Toews. “It’s making a huge dfference that for our team right now all four lines are working to make things happens dpesnt matter who we play against, if we play a smart defensive game as we are all four lines the way we have, all four lines can score right now, and it’s good to see that confidence in the team.”
That attitude has enabled the Blackhawks to rattle off four wins in their last five games. On Wednesday night they overpowered Buffalo 6-2 on two goals from captain Toews, along with scores from Marian Hossa, Jimmy Hayes, Dave Bolland and rookie Andrew Shaw, whose first period goal was his fifth of the season.
Even coach Joel Quenneville made note of the defensive effort, “Our ‘D,’ across the board was one of our better games all year. They were very active in the attack, killed some nice plays. Our power play was better because we were shooting from the point. I thought our ‘D’ had a strong night.”
They would have tallied another, but a quick whistle disallowed a potential seventh goal for Marcus Kruger. The pinstripes ruled it a hand pass and stopped play even though replays showed otherwise. Goalie Corey Crawford turned away twenty-five of the twenty-seven shots he faced.
Most notable was the fact that three of the goals came on power plays, and a fourth occurred just seconds after a power play opportunity.
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