Nov. 19--Kris Versteeg remembered the line of questioning from last season.
As it was then, it is now: What is going on with the Blackhawks in overtime and shootouts? The only difference this time around is the Hawks are earning points after regulation instead of giving them up.
"I'll give the same answer I gave last year: I don't know what the reason is for that," Versteeg said. "It seems to be a year-to-year thing with every team I've ever been on. Sometimes it's bad and sometimes it's good. I can't explain it."
Last season, the Hawks finished 6-8 in shootouts and a staggering 1-7 in overtime. They didn't notch their first OT victory until their 80th game on April 9. This season, they 3-0 in shootouts and 1-1 in overtimes.
"Last year it seemed like we couldn't buy a frigging win in OT or shootout and now this year it's going the right way," winger Bryan Bickell said. "With the division and conference so tight, these single points we need in these times are important. I don't know if we practice it more or the guys have worked on their shootout in the offseason. We had the talent last year, we just got snake bit."
As the shootout and overtime losses piled up last season, the Hawks saw an adverse effect in the standings. Those 15 points they gave away resulted in a third-place finish in the Central Division and a rougher road in the playoffs as they had to battle the Blues in the first round.
"We really left a lot on the table and we could have put ourselves in a different spot in our division and our conference," coach Joel Quenneville said. "We look at how close the league is right now and how close it's going to be, we have to take advantage of it."
Added Bickell: "Last year, we had 107 points and came in third in the division. That's the difference in home ice or even making the playoffs this year. Points are crucial now and we can get them when we have an opportunity. Hopefully, we can keep this going or even we can win more in regulation. That would be better but if we can take them in OT we'll take them in OT."
The turnaround in shootouts has been rather dramatic with Patrick Kane leading the way. Last season, one of the NHL's slickest goal-scorers was an almost inexplicable 1-for-11 in shootouts. Thus far in 2014-15 he is 2-for-3 with both scores game-winners.
"Last year I wasn't very good at it," Kane said. "It's an important part of the game. We have some great shooters who can score and when you have (Corey) Crawford in net you're going to feel very confident."
It has been the play of Crawford -- and Scott Darling when he was with the team -- in post-regulation that is the one explanation Versteeg, Quenneville and Kane all pinpointed as being the difference this season.
"Our goaltending has been excellent, especially with Crawford in there and when you have Kane and (Jonathan) Toews with a chance to go one-on-one with a goaltender you're going to get scoring opportunities," Versteeg said.
Carousel: The Hawks continued to shuffle the roster to maximize the salary-cap relief they received by putting defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk on the long-term injury list. A day after recalling Stephen Johns from Rockford of the AHL, the Hawks sent the rookie back to the IceHogs and recalled defenseman Adam Clendening and forward Joakim Nordstrom.
ckuc@tribpub.com
Twitter @ChrisKuc
