The Hawks closed out the month of October with a 5-4 overtime win over the Nashville Predators to improve their record to 7-2-2. After going down to the wire last season to sneak into the Western Conference playoffs as the 8th seed, the importance of early season points and points on home ice was stressed. The Hawks have gotten the message early on accumulating points in 9 of 11 October games. The Hawks are 5-0-2 on home ice and have not lost in regulation. More importantly, Chicago has accumulated at least a point in all 7 home games. The Hawks started off the 2010-11 season 7-5-0 but were just 4-4-0 on home ice during the month of October.
The question coming out of training camp was how Patrick Kane would adjust to moving from the wing to center. Patrick Kane has answered the bell and leads the Hawks in scoring with 4 goals and 7 assists for 11 points. Kaner is a plus 6 and has won 50% of faceoffs taken. The line of Marian Hossa, Dan Carcillo, and Kane in the middle has been a force to be reckoned with and a threat to score every time they are on the ice. Hossa is tied for the team lead for goals with Dave Bolland with 5 goals apiece. Even Carcillo, who is not known for his offense, has added two assists and has opened up the ice for Kane and Hossa to dazzle with play making ability. Kane also added a shootout winning goal against Colorado.
The penalty killing unit has been incredible through the first month of the season. The Hawks are 3rd in the league killing 91.7% of opposition power play chances. Chicago has allowed only 3 power play goals on 36 opposition chances. Chicago has also scored 3 shorthanded goals on the season with Dave Bolland scoring 2 of the 3.
The power play has been the biggest disappointment so far this year and although the power play has generated more scoring chances lately, the Hawks are still just 4 of 45 on the power play on the season. That is a dismal 8.9% and only the St. Louis Blues have a worse power play percentage than the Hawks. Chicago had 3 power play goals disallowed against Columbus and failed to score on two separate two man advantages against Nashville. The power play will need to get going or it could cost the Hawks some points in the standings as the season progresses.
Goaltending has been solid through the month of October with Corey Crawford leading the way starting 9 of 11 games in goal. Crawford is 5-2-2 with a 2.38 GAA and .914 save percentage. Ray Emery has done the job as a backup going 2-0-0 with a 2.50 GAA and .915 save percentage.
After playing 7 of 11 games at home during the month of October, the Hawks will start November on the road and play 10 of 14 on the road for the month. The annual circus trip will see the Hawks on the road for a 6 game stretch through western Canada and California. The Hawks will also see the hated Canucks twice in the month of November. The Hawks will need to establish themselves as road warriors if they want to remain at the top of the Western Conference standings.
The Hawks made it through the month of October virtually injury free. However, Duncan Keith injured his hand against Nashville and will miss Thursday's game against Florida. He is listed as day to day.
October Stats
Division 1st Place
Conference Tied 1st
Record 7-2-2 16 points
Home 5-0-2 12 points
Road 2-2-0 4 points
Power Play 4/45 8.9%
Goals 5 Dave Bolland/Marian Hossa
Assists 7 Patrick Kane/Patrick Sharp
Points 11 Patrick Kane
October Results
10/07/11 @Dallas Stars L 2-1
10/08/11 Dallas Stars W 5-2
10/13/11 Winnipeg Jets W 4-3
10/15/11 Boston Bruins O 3-2 SO
10/18/11 @Phoenix Coyotes W 5-2
10/20/11 @Colorado Avalanche W 3-1
10/22/11 Colorado Avalanche O 5-4 SO
10/25/11 Anaheim Ducks W 3-2 SO
10/28/11 @Carolina Hurricanes L 3-0
10/29/11 Columbus Blue Jackets W 5-2
10/31/11 Nashville Predators W 5-4 OT
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