Blackhawks Find Groove, Drill Oilers

When Patrick Kane gave up an empty-net goal to get Daniel Carcillo on the board late in the third period, the game was already over. The Blackhawks hammered the Northwest Division-leading Edmonton Oilers, and ran their win streak to three in a row.

Steve Montador scored two goals in the first period, the second of which was his second power play goal during the streak. He was the game’s rightful Number One star, finishing with a team-leading four hits as well as the two goals.

Jonathan Toews also scored two goals as the new-look top line for the Hawks continued to be dominant. During the three game winning streak, Toews has four goals and two assists. Marian Hossa has four assists and one goal in the three games, and Viktor Stalberg has one goal and two assists over the streak. The line has combined to be plus-18 in the three games.

Nick Leddy skated another solid game for Chicago, adding two assists in a team-high 27:15 on Sunday night. He now has four assists in his last two games, and 10 helpers on the season already.

Unfortunately, the Blackhawks might need more heavy minutes from Leddy if the injury to Brent Seabrook keeps the big defenseman off the ice for any games.

The sixth Blackhawks goal was scored by Duncan Keith, who was one of seven Hawks with two points against Edmonton. Keith, Hossa, Toews, Montador, Leddy, Stalberg and Kane all had a multi-point night.

The Hawks now leave for their annual Circus Trip, playing their next six games on the road before finally returning to the United Center on Nov. 29 against Phoenix. So far this year, the UC has been exceptionally kind to the Hawks, where they have a stellar 7-1-2 record and have earned 16 of 20 possible points.