Hawks gain momentum, confidence from lopsided win

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The Blackhawks went into the night with a chance to fatten up the stats. Five minutes into the second, we were wondering if that would indeed be the case.

But this Sabres team that had such high hopes coming into the season is too much of a mess and goals by Marian Hossa and Jimmy Hayes to finish the middle frame, then Dave Bolland and Jonathan Toews early in the third put this one away as the Hawks improved to 4-0-1 since losing Patrick Sharp.

Bolland stayed hot with his sixth goal in as many games, and the kids -- Hayes and Andrew Shaw -- are playing beyond their experience. Shaw made it five goals in eight games and picked up his first assist, while Hayes upped his total to four goals in 10 games. Shaw was named the No. 3 star, Hayes No. 1.

Corey Crawford had some tough saves to make after giving up an early goal despite a clean look, and bounced back - just as he did Sunday against San Jose - with a 25-stop performance.

Now the Hawks look to keep momentum Friday (on Comcast SportsNet) versus Florida and three ex-Cup-winning mates coming back for the first time since their respective departures - Kris Versteeg, Brian Campbell and Tomas Kopecky.

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