Blackhawks: Dominant weekend as Chicago continues to roll

The Chicago Blackhawks are having a really good time right now as they continue to play to their strengths and string together wins.

The Chicago Blackhawks have been on a roll lately. They dug themselves in a big hole to begin the season and they have almost dug themselves out of it. They won both games over the weekend and looked pretty dominant in each of them. They scored lots of goals and had both of their goalies play well in the process. That is how the ‘Hawks are going to need to play if they want to succeed this season.

They began in the music city on Saturday night when they played the Nashville Predators at the Bridgestone Arena. They were going into this game looking for revenge because the Predators absolutely destroyed the Blackhawks in Nashville a few weeks ago. They went into Nashville this time with a purpose and took care of business. They won the game in the only way they can. They won the game by outscoring their opponent, which sounds literal but by that it means that the Blackhawks will win games by trading chances and relying on scoring goals and the goalies playing well.

They don’t have the roster to dump and chase the whole time. They need to take risks to score goals and rely on Corey Crawford and Robin Lehner to make saves when they do give up chances. Lehner played very well in this game as the Blackhawks won 7-2 despite being outshot 41-24. Nashville didn’t look like the same team that shelled the Blackhawks a few weeks prior at all and that is because the Blackhawks did what they need to do to put the puck in the net.

The following day, the Buffalo Sabres met the Blackhawks back in Chicago for a big Sunday night matchup at the United Center. The Blackhawks had Corey Crawford in net for this one and they got right back to what they were doing the night before. They were outshot 34-27 but won the game 4-1. Just like the night before, the Blackhawks were in complete control of the entire game to make sure they sealed four points out of four for the weekend.

Patrick Kane had three points in the two games to extend his point streak to nine games. He also has a six-game goal-scoring streak as he had a goal in each game this weekend. He has been dominant lately and the Blackhawks need it to win. He has never been better and this team is finally playing a style of game that supports his skill set.

The rookie Kirby Dach had a sensational night in this game against Buffalo as well. He had two goals to propel the Hawks to a victory. He has a goal in three of the last four games and his point streak is at four. Over those four games, he has four goals and two assists for six points. The rookie has it going right now and it really helps the Blackhawks balanced attack.

This little run that the Blackhawks are on has lifted them all the way up the standings into bubble team territory. They are one point behind the Vegas Golden Knights for the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. They also have two games in hand over Vegas and three games in hand over the Calgary Flames who are tied with the Hawks in points. The Blackhawks have a chance to make it five wins in a row when the Carolina Hurricanes come to the United Center for an inter-conference tilt.