Feb. 03--The Blackhawks looked like a different team than the one that slumped wearily into the All-Star break, losing three of four. From the outset of their 2-1 victory over the Avalanche on Tuesday night at the Pepsi Center, the Hawks looked like a faster, crisper team even without captain Jonathan Toews, who was serving his one-game suspension for pulling out of the All-Star Game.
Panik paying off so far
Not much was made of the move when the Hawks traded Jeremy Morin for Richard Panik last month, but save for the time Panik overslept and missed a morning skate in Tampa, he has proven to be a fit so far. In nine games, Panik has scored three goals when he could not crack the roster of the Maple Leafs (one of the worst teams in the league). He drew some praise from coach Joel Quenneville.
"Very happy, very pleased," Quenneville said. "(Tuesday) he was really good. He was technically aware. Obviously scoring is nice and he had some jump. Liked his thought process in the game."
Panik's goal came after he fought off two defenders in front of the net for a rebound that gave the Hawks a 1-0 lead 2 minutes, 57 seconds in.
Panik bounced around the lines, playing for a while with Teuvo Teravainen and Andrew Shaw (when he scored his goal) and then went down to the third line with Phillip Danault and Andrew Desjardins. But wherever he was, he made his presence felt.
Panarin, Kane flash chemistry
Patrick Kane made a pass from near the blue line as Artemi Panarin skated in the Avalanche zone along the boards. It was a hard pass for Kane to make around a few Avalanche defenders, but it was one Panarin knew to anticipate.
Panarin then took the pass, skated toward the net, beat an Avalanche defender on a backhand move and scored his 18th goal of the season. It was a play that exemplified the kind of chemistry Kane and Panarin have had together.
"From the first game we got together really well," Panarin said through an interpreter. "It's a natural chemistry. We have the same style, good chemistry. I have so much work to do and I'll improve."
A Corsi look
The Hawks had one of their best puck possession nights of the season. That tends to happen when you hold a team to just two shots on goal in a period, as the Hawks did to the Avalanche in the second period. The Hawks had 70 percent of the overall shots (or Corsi percentage) during even strength play. That was their best output of the season.
Even during the Hawks' 12-game win streak, there were nights where they were ceding puck possession and relying on Corey Crawford. That wasn't the case Tuesday. Breaking it down by periods, the Hawks outshot the Avalanche 28-9 during even-strength play in the first period, 28-7 in the second and 21-17 in the third period.
