BERLIN _ When visiting Europe, the recommendation is to travel light and not to bring anything you don't absolutely need.
The Blackhawks disregarded that advice and it sure made Sunday's exhibition in Berlin feel a whole lot like a home game.
Tommy Hawk's antics were on full display, public address announcer Gene Honda's voice was booming throughout Eisenbaeren Berlin's Mercedes-Benz Arena, and Chelsea Dagger erupted on cue when the Hawks scored a goal.
The video board even showed Hawks chairman Rocky Wirtz break into a broad smile after Alex Nylander's goal midway through the third period of their 3-1 victory before a sellout crowd of 14,200 at the NHL's Global Series Challenge.
The biggest differences were the larger ice surface that played to the Hawks advantage, and the spirited Eisenbaeren fans at one end of the rink who behaved like boisterous soccer fans knew how to control their tempers.
Don't let the close final score fool you. The Hawks dominated puck possession most of the game and had far more opportunities than Eisenbaeren, which found a way to be aggressive without giving the Hawks uncontested scoring chances.
Jonathan Toews put the Hawks on the board late in the first period when he roofed a shot after taking a beautiful no-look, behind-the back pass from Patrick Kane. Eisenbaeren tied it in the second on a goal by Sean Backman, a former teammate of Jeremy Colliton and Calvin de Haan.
David Kampf added an empty-net goal with one minute, 20 seconds left in the third period.
The Hawks' traveling road show moves to Prague on Monday, with the season opener set for Friday against the Flyers.
