The goaltending and team defense for the Blackhawks has seldom been better. In keeping with a strong goalie tradition that extends back to Charles Gardiner in the 1930s, Glenn Hall in the 1960s and Tony Esposito in the 1970s, the pairing of Ed Belfour and Dominik Hasek is one for the record books, as well.
In the last six games, during which the Hawks are unbeaten at 5-0-1, the Hawks` goals-against average is 1.32. Belfour is 3-0 with two shutouts in that span and owns a 0.99 goals-against average. Hasek is 2-0-1 and his 1.62 goals- against average has his critics, who doubted him earlier this season when he struggled, running for cover.
The Hawks have five shutouts this season, the most since 1982-83. With one more, you have to go back to 1979-80 to find the last time the team compiled that many. Esposito logged all six.
That`s special: Talk about your contrasts. While the Hawks` penalty killing is on a high, their power play is sinking fast.
The Hawks have allowed just five goals in the last 60 power plays against them, a scintillating 92 percent success ratio. However, the man-advantage attack is limping along at 9 percent efficiency in the past eight games, scoring four goals in 44 opportunities.
A meaningful game: With Edmonton currently in a fight just to make the NHL playoffs, the Oilers` Craig MacTavish isn`t trying to smooth the challenge. More than winning and losing is on the line when the Hawks play Edmonton Wednesday night.
”If we don`t make the playoffs, guys will be out of jobs,” the Oiler veteran said. ”The playoffs can be a redemption for the season. The excuses are over. We simply have to play better.”
A sing-a-long: The Hawks couldn`t practice Tuesday at Edmonton`s Northlands Coliseum because pop singer Bryan Adams was set up there for a concert. So the team went next door, where another rink is situated. You never have to go far in this part of the country to find a spare rink. Keenan missed practice, flying to Vancouver to watch the Oilers play Tuesday night.