The Blackhawks like to talk about the improvement they've made this season, though their 5-6 record doesn't suggest there has been all that much.
One area, though, where the Hawks' improvement has been dramatic is on the power play. The Hawks have ranked last among the NHL's 30 teams with the man advantage the last two seasons. Heading into their road game tonight against the Dallas Stars, however, the Hawks' power play ranks 10th with a 20 percent conversion rate (12-for-60).
Not only that, but the Hawks have a player -- Jason Williams -- among the league leaders in power-play points. They probably haven't had a player on that list since the last playoff season in 2001-02, when Phil Housley worked the puck from the point and Eric Daze headed a group of strong shooters. The Hawks ranked sixth on the power play that season, converting 17.9 percent of their chances, so this team is scoring at a more efficient rate than that one. The Hawks haven't finished above 20 percent since 1994-95.
Williams has eight power-play points, a total topped by only the Vancouver Canucks' Daniel Sedin, who has nine while playing in one more game. All four of Williams' goals have come when the Hawks had the man advantage.
Coach Denis Savard attributes the team's improvement to the addition of rookies Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. They rank one-two among rookies in power-play points, Toews having six in nine games and Kane five in 11.
''Compared to the years before, we've got a kid [Toews] who's going to attack the net from the goal line,'' Savard said. ''It takes courage to do that. If you don't attack, you're pretty easy to defend.''
Williams had two power-play goals in 20 games last season after coming to the Hawks in a trade with the Detroit Red Wings. He admits the arrival of Toews and Kane makes a difference, but that's not all. The Hawks have their third power-play coach in three years. Bruce Cassidy, who is no longer on the staff, was in charge of the power play in 2005-06. Savard, who had guided the penalty-killers, assumed power-play duties last season and retained them even after replacing Trent Yawney as head coach six weeks into the season. New assistant John Torchetti is in charge of the power play now.
''Torch gives us ideas of what plays he'd like to see us run,'' Williams said. ''He stays on us. He wants us to get better every day.''
That pretty much has been the case, but the Hawks' power-play proficiency was never as evident as it was in the first meeting with the Stars on Oct. 13 at the United Center -- the fifth game of the season. A power-play goal by Robert Lang with 1.5 seconds left in the third period tied the score, and Williams' power-play goal in overtime enabled the Hawks to beat the Stars 2-1. That was one of four multiple-goal games for the Hawks' power-play unit in the last eight games.
The Hawks had only 10 games in which they scored multiple power-play goals last season, and four came in the first seven games.
NOTES: Adam Burish was elevated to the first line at practice Tuesday at the United Center. He'll play with Robert Lang and Jason Williams tonight. Patrick Sharp will be back on the third line.
? ? Sergei Samsonov's stay on the sidelines will continue. He'll be a healthy scratch for the second consecutive game.
? ? Coach Denis Savard altered his defensive pairings, with Jim Vandermeer and Brent Seabrook being paired for the first time. That left James Wisniewski to play with Magnus Johansson.
? ? Nikolai Khabibulin will be in goal Wednesday at Dallas after backup Patrick Lalime started Saturday's 3-1 home loss to Atlanta.
One area, though, where the Hawks' improvement has been dramatic is on the power play. The Hawks have ranked last among the NHL's 30 teams with the man advantage the last two seasons. Heading into their road game tonight against the Dallas Stars, however, the Hawks' power play ranks 10th with a 20 percent conversion rate (12-for-60).
Not only that, but the Hawks have a player -- Jason Williams -- among the league leaders in power-play points. They probably haven't had a player on that list since the last playoff season in 2001-02, when Phil Housley worked the puck from the point and Eric Daze headed a group of strong shooters. The Hawks ranked sixth on the power play that season, converting 17.9 percent of their chances, so this team is scoring at a more efficient rate than that one. The Hawks haven't finished above 20 percent since 1994-95.
Williams has eight power-play points, a total topped by only the Vancouver Canucks' Daniel Sedin, who has nine while playing in one more game. All four of Williams' goals have come when the Hawks had the man advantage.
Coach Denis Savard attributes the team's improvement to the addition of rookies Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. They rank one-two among rookies in power-play points, Toews having six in nine games and Kane five in 11.
''Compared to the years before, we've got a kid [Toews] who's going to attack the net from the goal line,'' Savard said. ''It takes courage to do that. If you don't attack, you're pretty easy to defend.''
Williams had two power-play goals in 20 games last season after coming to the Hawks in a trade with the Detroit Red Wings. He admits the arrival of Toews and Kane makes a difference, but that's not all. The Hawks have their third power-play coach in three years. Bruce Cassidy, who is no longer on the staff, was in charge of the power play in 2005-06. Savard, who had guided the penalty-killers, assumed power-play duties last season and retained them even after replacing Trent Yawney as head coach six weeks into the season. New assistant John Torchetti is in charge of the power play now.
''Torch gives us ideas of what plays he'd like to see us run,'' Williams said. ''He stays on us. He wants us to get better every day.''
That pretty much has been the case, but the Hawks' power-play proficiency was never as evident as it was in the first meeting with the Stars on Oct. 13 at the United Center -- the fifth game of the season. A power-play goal by Robert Lang with 1.5 seconds left in the third period tied the score, and Williams' power-play goal in overtime enabled the Hawks to beat the Stars 2-1. That was one of four multiple-goal games for the Hawks' power-play unit in the last eight games.
The Hawks had only 10 games in which they scored multiple power-play goals last season, and four came in the first seven games.
NOTES: Adam Burish was elevated to the first line at practice Tuesday at the United Center. He'll play with Robert Lang and Jason Williams tonight. Patrick Sharp will be back on the third line.
? ? Sergei Samsonov's stay on the sidelines will continue. He'll be a healthy scratch for the second consecutive game.
? ? Coach Denis Savard altered his defensive pairings, with Jim Vandermeer and Brent Seabrook being paired for the first time. That left James Wisniewski to play with Magnus Johansson.
? ? Nikolai Khabibulin will be in goal Wednesday at Dallas after backup Patrick Lalime started Saturday's 3-1 home loss to Atlanta.
