Working OT paying dividends
Duncan Keith likes threeonthree overtime. So far.
“It’s fun,” he said. “I mean, it’s no fun if you don’t win.”
And the Blackhawks are winning a lot in overtime, and just past the halfway point in the season, that has made a big difference in the standings. The Hawks entered Friday with an 8- 4 record in overtime and a win in their lone shootout. That’s nine extra points they’ve picked up beyond the one they earned for getting to overtime.
Meanwhile, their closest foes in the Central Division haven’t fared so well. The MinnesotaWild lost in overtime to the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, dropping their overtime record to 1- 7 ( 0- 1 in the shootout). If they were .500 in overtime, they’d be tied with the Hawks with two games in hand instead of four points back. The Nashville Predators are 1- 6 in overtime ( 2- 1 in shootouts), keeping them clinging to a wild- card spot in fifth place.
“It’s pretty exciting,” Hawks goaltender Corey Crawford said of the format. “For us, so far, it’s been good. With our skill, we’ve been able to take advantage.”
Of course, it helps when you can throw JonathanToews ( who has a league- high four overtime goals) and Patrick Kane over the boards with all that open ice. After starting the year with Keith, they’ve been playing more with Niklas Hjalmarsson lately, as Joel Quenneville tries to find the right mix of skill and safety.
Keith is ambivalent on the concept of three- on- three overtime, which was created to limit the amount of games that are decided by shootouts. It’s fun and effective, but it’s certainly not real hockey.
“I guess it’s entertainment for people, if that’s what they want, and I think it’s good,” Keith said. “I don’t know if it’s any more gimmicky than the shootout. As a player, I don’t mind it. But I only like it when we’re winning.”
No Panik
Richard Panik, acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs for JeremyMorin last Sunday, has yet to join the Hawks because of visa issues, but Quenneville said he was “getting close” and that he possibly could arrive by Sunday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche.
When the trade was made, Quenneville hinted that Panik could start on the top line with Toews and Marian Hossa. That said, he’s usually reluctant to change things up when the Hawks are on a roll.
“We’ll visit that when it’s time,” he said. “We’ll see.”
Top sellers
Toews and Kane had the top- selling jerseys in 2015 at the NHL’s official online store, likely buoyed byWinter Classic and All- Star jersey sales. The top 10 was rounded out byHenrik Lundqvist, Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, Patrice Bergeron, ZachParise, CareyPrice, RyanMcDonagh and ConnorMcDavid.