from Kevin Allen of USA TODAY,

General manager Stan Bowman recalls his captain, Jonathan Toews, having the thousand-yard stare when they met last spring to discuss the Chicago Blackhawks' frustrating first-round playoff loss to the Phoenix Coyotes.

"He had a blank look on his face, an empty look," Bowman says. "He knew we could have been so much better. He (felt) like we had much unfinished business. I remember saying that I agreed, but he had to hold on to that feeling and remember it for motivation next season."

Ten months after that conversation, the Blackhawks sit atop the NHL standings with the league's best record, best goal differential and probably the highest level of confidence they have possessed since winning the Stanley Cup three years ago.

The lockout-shortened 48-game season is a little more than a month old, and no opponent has been able to defeat Chicago in regulation.

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