Marian Hossa turning back clock

The legs are still there. The hands are still there. The smarts are still there.
So is the thrill.
Marian Hossa cruised up ice in overtime at United Center on Thursday. He took a pass from Patrick Kane, weaved to his left through the offensive zone, stickhandled past the outstretched stick of a defender, whipped a shot from the slot and scored, giving the Chicago Blackhawks a 4-3 victory against the New Jersey Devils.

The Blackhawks' right wing let out a primal roar with his back against the boards, fans cheering behind him, teammates celebrating around him.
That's 12 goals this season -- including four game-winners, tied for second in the League, and three overtime goals, most in the League -- after he scored 13 goals last season. That's 15 OT goals in his NHL career, third among active players behind Jaromir Jagr of the Florida Panthers (19) and Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals (18).
At 37, Hossa is trending back up after a down season statistically. He's a big reason why the Blackhawks sit atop the Western Conference with 35 points. They have more youth. Their games haven't always been pretty. But they still have top-end talent and have found ways to win.
"He's shown everybody this year that he's not slowing down one bit," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. "He's had an amazing start to the season, put us in a great spot in the standings as well.
"It's the quality of the key goals he's scored for us, and his play has been as consistent as it's always been, not just his production. We know that he plays the right way, and he really is such a great pro. It's great for our young guys to watch him and absorb what it's like to prepare game in and game out, and doing all the little things that can complement your team game."

Some of this is puck luck. Hossa played much the same last season. Actually, he took more shots per game then (2.98) than he has been taking this season (2.34). But his shooting percentage was 6.8 last season, a career low. It's 21.4 now, which would be a career high by far and is due for regression.
His overtime goal against the Devils wasn't exactly a wicked shot. The puck found a way past New Jersey's John Moore and Adam Henrique in front before eluding goaltender Cory Schneider.
"Last year I had lots of chances," Hossa said. "For whatever reason, I could not put the puck in the net. Obviously I feel like if I would capitalize on so many chances I had, at least half of them, that would [have been] maybe a little easier season."
But goals boost confidence.
"That definitely helps," Hossa said.
Rest helps too.
Hossa has played lots of hockey, thanks to deep runs in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Blackhawks won the Cup in 2013, went to Game 7 of the Western Conference Final in 2014 and won the Cup in 2015. Hossa played 64 games during those three runs. The earliest he was done was June 1.
Then the Blackhawks lost to the St. Louis Blues in the Western Conference First Round last season. Hossa played seven games. He was done April 25.
"Definitely feel so far better than last year, so that's a good sign," Hossa said. "Suddenly we had a long summer, so that definitely helped me to recharge the batteries and take a long break from hockey. Right now I feel like I've got more enthusiasm, more energy, and I feel like I have more drive."

How long will Hossa have that enthusiasm, energy and drive?
He is signed through 2020-21, taking him until he's 42. He trains hard and is in fantastic shape. Asked if Hossa could be like Jagr and play to age 44, Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell said he could see it.
"He can still skate," Campbell said. "I think Hossa's skating really well this season. I know you've seen it too. You look around the League, you look at a guy like [San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton], you look at Hossa. Maybe those guys are the ones to do it. They're big bodies; big, strong kind of guys."
But Hossa said a lot will depend on his health and level of play. He said he would go year by year and see how he feels.
"If I don't feel I'm playing at my level, I wouldn't probably enjoy it," Hossa said. "If I'm playing at the level I feel I'm playing now, it's still fun."
Sure looks like it.