The Blackhawks can now continue running their “Red Rising” advertisements after winning their fourth in a row this weekend, finally righting the ship after an eight-game losing streak earlier this month.
Both Friday and Saturday’s victories were in shootouts. Patrick Kane–the leading candidate for the NHL Rookie of the Year Calder Trophy–scored in both. Robert Lang won it for the Hawks Friday night to top Colorado and Martin Havlat’s goal Saturday sealed the win against the Phoenix Coyotes.
“I think the biggest reason for our recent success is Patrick Lalime,” head coach Denis Savard said, referring to the Hawk backup goaltender. “I’ve been playing him over Nikolai Khabibulin because he’s just been better … no doubt. He’s seeing the puck well and playing his ass off. Plus, I don’t like Russians. I got Sergei Samsanov out of here and hopefully I can do the same with Khabibulin. Man do I hate Russians. Almost as much as I hate AT&T and Eskimos.”
The Blackhawks play nine of their next 10 games on the road.
Number of the Weekend: Zero
Losses by the Hawks over the weekend. Feels like it’s been a while since they could say that.
