Harris: Consistency Proving To Be The Solution
By Adam Harris--
If the season ended today, the Chicago Blackhawks would be in the playoffs. This is something that could not have been said just one week ago.
Since their loss last Wednesday night to the Dallas Stars, the Blackhawks have won three home games in a row, outscoring their opponents 11-2 throughout those games.
"I think it starts in practice," winger Patrick Sharp said. "We have some up-tempo practices where we push the pace out there and that certainly carries over in a game. It's no secret that team speed is a huge part of our game, so when we are moving in five man group sets we are usually successful. You can kind of feel it coming."
This winning streak is the result of two things, great goalie play and an improved penalty kill. Goalie Corey Crawford is playing very well, recording back to back shut outs the last two games, and the Blackhawks penalty kill held the Colorado Avalanche to 0-5 on the power play last night.
"It was better last night, and I thought we were much better in all areas we try to re-enforce," coach Joel Quenneville said. "Being more predictable, be it off their entries, when it's going to the point and pressuring and clearing. It's one game, but it was a good power play as well. They [Colorado Avalanche] have a lot of options with a lot of different looks as well. It was a good night but we need several of those to be where we need to be."
Last week, when talking with Patrick Sharp, he said the team was lacking consistency. He thinks they have found some form of that lately too.
"I think we've shown signs of turning the corner here the last month or so," Sharp said. "We've won three games, four games, and then dropped a few, so hopefully this is the time that we've fully turned that corner and become the team we think we can."
If the team wishes to keep this streak going they will have to do it against a tough Nashville Predator team this weekend. The Blackhawks face them in a home and home series on Saturday and Sunday and know it will be a test.
"We definitely value these games," Quenneville said. "It can be like an eight point swing at the end of it. That's kind-of our focus, not that we have five days off at the end of it. I'm just concentrating and thinking about the importance of those games and trying to extend how we played the last couple games."
It is not yet determined whether we will see Crawford in net for both games, or if we will see back-up goalie Marty Turco for one of them. Either way, veteran goalie Marty Turco is handling the lack of playing time like a professional.
"I talked to him today about that and I think his approach was great," Quenneville said. "That's where he's at, knowing that he still wants to be apart of it, knowing that at some point he has a chance to get in there and contribute and be apart of it as well. I think his mindset is where we want it to be and like it to be. I commend him on how he's handled it."
No matter who is in net for either game, this weekend's series with Nashville is huge for the Blackhawks. Nashville is currently 4th in the Western Conference with 52 points, and the Blackhawks are 7th with 51 points. These division rivals don't hold anything back when playing each other.
