Chicago captain Jonathan Toews was elated after his team's 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings Saturday night, suggesting the Blackhawks are extremely tough to beat when they're playing the way they did in this one. The Hawks trimmed the Wings' lead in this Western playoff series to 3-2. Toews scored his first playoff goal Saturday but was more interested in speaking about his team in general. "We knew that our backs are against the wall," Toews said. "When you're down three games to one, you have to push back, you have to do something and we did. Every single guy answered the call. It's fun to play that way when everyone is chipping in and playing for each other. There's not much we can't do when we play like that. We'll carry it into the next one."

Based on the Blackhawks' practice on Saturday, their top line will consist of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, and Patrick Sharp. Uniting the trio could spark Chicago's offense and Toews in particular. Toews has no goals and three assists in nine playoff games. "We played a lot together my first couple of years in the league and just kind of developed some chemistry where it was pretty instant and had a lot of offensive chances," Kane said. "We just have to kind of remember how to play with each other. We haven't done it in a while. Hopefully, we can get a good first couple of shifts and get some chemistry back right away."

Jonathan Toews continues to remain publicly positive despite the fact that he and the Chicago Blackhawks trail the Detroit Red Wings 3-1 in their best-of-seven, second-round playoff series. "Our best players need to be our best," the Chicago captain said. "We need to lead, grab the rope and start pulling for the rest of the guys, and that starts with me." The odds don't favor the Blackhawks here. Teams have come back from a 3-1 deficit to win a best-of-seven series about eight percent of the time. The Blackhawks almost came back from a 3-0 deficit against the Vancouver Canucks two springs ago, losing to them in a Game 7 overtime. They'll keep that memory in the front of their minds when the puck drops tonight. "It just goes to show that things like that are possible," Toews said. "We were very close to winning that series. I'm sure Detroit knows and we know this series is long from being over. (Tonight's) going to be the toughest game for both. We'll keep that (thought) in our hip pocket."

Jonathan Toews doesn't think the Blackhawks should feel down after losing three games in a row to Detroit. "Obviously we're not where we want to be in the series but feeling sorry for ourselves isn't going to do anything," Toews said. "We have a positive group of guys. We've had a great season all year for that reason. We're going to stick to what helps us win hockey games, going to focus on tomorrow night, and that's it." Toews hasn't scored yet in the playoffs and obviously Game 5 on Saturday would be a great time for him to end that slump from Chicago's perspective.

Jonathan Toews still has faith that things are going to work out for Chicago. They suffered a 2-0 loss on Thursday and are now trailing Detroit 3-1 in their second-round series. "We played our tails off. We did a lot of good things. We just didn't find the back of the net. Eventually, something's got to give," Toews said. "We're too good a team, we've got too much talent. For as hard as we're working, something's got to go our way." Obviously, the Blackhawks can't afford to wait for "eventually" any more. Toews will be one of the more interesting players to watch in Game 5. He had no goals and just three points in nine playoff games and was charged with three minor penalties on Thursday.

Jonathan Toews was held off the scoresheet for the third straight game Thursday as the Blackhawks were shut out by Detroit by a score of 2-0. Toews did register three shots on goal and six penalty minutes in the game, but he has totalled only three points, all assists, in nine postseason games this spring. If the Blackhawks are going to come back from their current 3-1 hole in the series their captain will have to be a major contributor.

Chicago teammate Viktor Stalberg is confident that Jonathan Toews will snap out of his scoring funk in Game 4. "I've got a feeling he'll probably score here tonight," Stalberg said prior to Game 4 against Detroit. "He's usually that guy that when we need him the most he's going to find a way to get it done. So I wouldn't be surprised to see him have a big game here tonight." Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin predicted that James Neal would break out of his slump "soon," going into Wednesday's contest and Neal responded with two goals and one assist. The Blackhawks would be more than thankful if Toews had a night like that.

Jaromir Jagr, Jonathan Toews and Tyler Seguin remain frustratingly planted in the "no-goal club." Seguin must be the most agitated with a whopping 39 SOG and zero tallies in 10 games, failing to find the net despite firing almost four shots on opposing goalies per contest. It's stunning that the Bruins are one win away from the Eastern Conference finals despite the fact that Jagr and Seguin have gone without a goal on 68 combined SOG.

Jonathan Toews is still looking for his first goal of the playoffs. "I always (feel the pressure to score); maybe a little added pressure in this situation. It's one of those things I have to keep working, keep trying to find ways to score," Toews said. "Eventually it's going to come." Chicago could certainly use the help. They have been held to just two goals over their last two games and are now down in their second-round series 2-1. These are the type of situations where they rely on Toews the most.

Jonathan Toews was held pointless for the second straight game by the Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings have made it a point in each of the last two games to close on Toews as soon as he gets the puck. The Blackhawks' captain did still manage seven shots Monday after registering just three in Game 2, but it's clear Detroit isn't going to allow him any room to operate. Thursday's Game 4 sounds like a pretty good time for him to score his first goal of the postseason.