Feb. 18--Marian Hossa has endured some good-natured ribbing from Blackhawks teammates for the flashy new skates the veteran winger is sporting these days.
But it's clear there's something special in those skates: Hossa himself.
The 36-year-old has put the Hawks on his back during their current six-game point streak, exploding for seven goals and an assist over the last five games.
"Sometimes you feel great when you change into new things," Hossa said after practice Tuesday. "I was aiming to change something because whatever I had, they didn't work as well."
The skates, which feature more white than Hossa's previous pair, have helped in the illusion of a vapor trail as he races up and down the ice often against players a decade or more younger than him.
"There are lots of great young kids in the league who are strong and fast so I need to do a little bit extra to keep up with them," said Hossa, who was named the NHL's First Star for last week. "I try to keep working on my speed by doing exercises away from the rink and in the gym on my legs. Little things are helping. I try to keep up."
In addition to the new blades, the extra gym time has paid off. After scoring just 10 goals in his first 52 games this season, Hossa is now the Hawks' third-leading scorer with 17 goals and 25 assists.
"All of a sudden, the puck is going in for you," Hossa said. "You're getting more confidence and you start doing more right plays. You start taking people one-on-one and things are going your way. ... It's a little bit of luck with more confidence combined. You have that feeling when you have the puck good things will happen."
Hossa's hot streak has come at an opportune time for the Hawks, who have been riding the hot stick of Patrick Kane, the league's leading scorer with 27 goals and 36 assists. Kane's impressive production aside, coach Joel Quenneville has been seeking more balanced scoring and Hossa's spurt has provided that from the top line of Hossa, Brandon Saad and Jonathan Toews.
"We like to get some production across the board," Quenneville said. "We don't want to rely on one group or one guy and one line to be our go-to line. That (No. 1) line is (usually) consistent in their production and it was quiet and then all of a sudden they break out. It was great to see. ... A lot of big points we got through those games with (Hossa's) production."
With 1,147 NHL games -- and 481 career goals -- under his belt, Hossa never doubted that the goals would come.
"I wasn't too worried about it because my game isn't all about the goals," he said. "If I score, definitely it makes me feel better that I can help offensively too. But if I'm not, I try to play a two-way game and try to contribute defensively.
"You just try to be yourself ... and believe in yourself. There are lots of guys in the league for a long time and there are (rough) stretches and then they hit the stretch when they're hot."
The back corner of the Hawks dressing room now features two of the NHL's hottest players as Hossa's and Kane's stalls are next to each other's. The Hawks hope the hot scoring is contagious.
"I'm sitting beside 'Kaner' so I tried to catch it earlier," Hossa said with a laugh. "I'm glad I got a streak. I'm looking to continue that production."
ckuc@tribpub.com
