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The Blackhawks followed the script last night in Denver.
Franchise figureheads Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews notched three-point nights. All four lines and the defense contributed in different ways and to varying degrees. Goalie Ray Emery was good enough to win.
Boom, a 5-2 win, bumping the Hawks' latest win streak to three games, all on the road.
Due to an arm/wrist/shoulder-ish injury to the other figurehead, Marian Hossa, Kane and Toews played together for much of the latter half of the contest. And what a joy they are to watch: artistry and power combined and complementing one another.
It was a fast-paced and intense game, although a bit choppy at times due to what seemed like a bit of an inconsistent ice sheet.
Rookie Jimmy Hayes might have gone a ways toward keeping a spot in Chicago with a nice move on the Hawks' first goal. Although that, like many other plays of late, was really made possible by the wizardry of Kane, with a terrific set up pass.
Although they didn't score, I thought the Hawk 4th line of Marcus Kruger, Michal Frolik and Brandon Bollig was good all night.
The Shaw/Stalberg/Bickell line was again outstanding all night—with Stalberg in particular really using his speed to frustrate opponents.
And Emery was probably more than a little lucky that the Avs couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with many of their shots. But overall, the Hawks simply overwhelmed the outmatched Avalanche.
And that was that.
I have not received any information yet on Hossa's injury, beyond the media reports that he is day to day. But I suspect, it is an aggravation of the shoulder bruise reported here previously.
We should know more tomorrow.
All for now,
JJ
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • 
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