At the age of 37, Marian Hossa continues to produce offensively for the Chicago Blackhawks.
Facing the injury-plagued Dallas Stars on Sunday, Hossa assisted on a goal from Jonathan Toews and then he buried the winner in overtime, giving the Blackhawks their sixth consecutive win.
Yes, Hossa and the Hawks are on a roll, taking a three-point lead in the standings over their divisional rivals from St. Louis.
That’s four goals in the last five games for Hossa, who is averaging just below a point per game despite his age.
Related: Hossa going ‘year-by-year,’ as his contract begins to dive
Once again, the Blackhawks were able to overcome a slow start, before coming to life in the third period. They received solid goaltending from Scott Darling and after a two-point night, Artem Anisimov leads the league with 17 points.
“It’s tough to say one reason but I think when the games go on we are in a better rhythm and I think we are playing better than (at) the start,” Hossa told the Chicago Sun-Times.
“That’s the reason, but I think we have to keep improving (and) have better starts because that’s as important as finishing.”
Chicago’s penalty kill, which was pretty much a disaster earlier in the season, came through in overtime, as the Blackhawks were able to kill off a four-on-three Stars power play, before the Hossa winner.
The Blackhawks got the win minus rookie forward Tyler Motte for the third period.
Motte left the game in the second period after getting tangled up with Radek Faksa and falling awkwardly into the boards. Motte didn’t return and head coach Joel Quenneville suggested he could miss some time.