Chicago Blackhawks’ Three Stars of Week 19

Welcome to Week Nineteen of Blackhawk Up’s 2013-14 Three Stars of the Week. As the title says, we will count down the top three performers in the Chicago Blackhawks’ lineup over the past seven days, and analyze their contribution to the team. These players don’t have to be the guys with the most points, or ice time, but the players that really stepped up their game, and made a positive impact.

The Chicago Blackhawks headed into the Olympic break with two out of three wins in their final week. The ‘Hawks reminded the L.A. Kings of last summer’s playoffs with a 5-3 victory, then shut out the NHL-best Anaheim Ducks 2-0 on the road two nights later. On Friday night, however, the tables would turn, and the Blackhawks found themselves the ones shut out, 2-0 to the hands of the Phoenix Coyotes.

Third Star: Nick Leddy

Feb 7, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Nick Leddy (8) skates with the puck as Phoenix Coyotes left wing

(89) chases during the third period at Jobing.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Nick Leddy had a welcome offensive outburst in the Blackhawks’ game against the Kings, recording a goal and an assist, both stemming from wicked point shots. Leddy was a force on that night in L.A., with the puck seeming to glue to his stick. To follow up, Leddy was where he needed to be defensively for the rest of the week, and finished with a plus/minus rating of +2. Leddy was earning significant time on the Blackhawks’ power-play unit, thanks to his speedy zone entries and great passes in the defensive zone.