Blackhawks not concerned with shots disadvantage

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Blackhawks are being outshot by nearly five shots a game, but they are outscoring teams by more than a goal per game and have won six straight in the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Opponents have outshot the defending Stanley Cup champions by a 266-230 margin in Chicago's eight postseason games, but the Blackhawks hold a 29-17 edge in goals.

They're scoring 3.6 goals per game and allowing 2.1 to get past goalie Corey Crawford. Asked Monday if trailing in shots by such a wide margin was a concern, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville shook his head.

"Not at all," he said. "I think in all the games we've been ahead, I think the other team's pressing, they're pinching, they're taking more chances, and we're probably playing by the score and the clock and playing safe. Sometimes you might think that you want to keep pounding it in their own end [in the third period], but they're going to have turns in your own end. When they're trying to score and they're behind, we anticipate probably getting more shots against us."

Though it's true the Blackhawks have led in the third period of all but one of their eight postseason games, the shot differential isn't exclusive to that stage of games.

Minnesota outshot Chicago 17-3 in the second period of Game 1, which was the second straight playoff game that happened to the Blackhawks. The Wild also led 13-8 in shots during the second period of Game 2 on Sunday at United Center.

"It [shows] that we have players with a lot of skill, we can score [from] anywhere and anyhow," veteran forward Michal Handzus said. "We don't want to play that way every game, when you get outshot. It [shows] that we need to be a little better with the puck [possession] and put more pucks on the net. We've been guilty of maybe passing too much. Just put it on net."