Nick Lardis' confidence surging with Blackhawks as he learns how to score in NHL

SEATTLE — Blackhawks rookie forward Nick Lardis’ surging confidence is evident not only in his play but also in his interviews.

He sounds more assertive and comfortable than he did earlier in the season.

‘‘I’m finding my confidence more and more every game,’’ Lardis said Saturday. ‘‘[I’m] finding my stride. I’m feeling really good with the systems and everything.’’

Everything is coming up Lardis’ way right now, including an apparent hand injury suffered Thursday against the Oilers that turned out to be inconsequential.

He has four goals in his last seven games, increasing his season total to nine in 35 NHL games (entering play Saturday against the Kraken). That ties him with forward Ryan Greene for eighth on the Hawks, and Greene has played more than twice as many games.

Lardis’ goal total likely would be higher, too, if he had played all along in the top six, as he has lately. Coach Jeff Blashill made him wait for that opportunity.

‘‘That’s what you’ve got to do as a young guy in the NHL: gain the coach’s trust,’’ Lardis said. ‘‘He put me in a position where I had to obviously earn it, and it was motivating for me. I loved the challenge. I’m not saying I’m going to be in the top six for[ever], but I’m not taking it for granted.’’

Quick release

Lardis has made a concerted effort to get into dirty areas around the net more often. That’s where he has scored his last two goals (against the Oilers and Rangers).

His elite shooting and finishing is what got him to the NHL, however, so that must remain a key part of his game.

Lardis has learned that releasing shots quickly is the best way to beat NHL goalies. He tried to wait out Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck on a golden scoring chance Tuesday, but that just gave Hellebucyk more time to challenge and cut down the angle.

‘‘I tried to wait and pick my corner rather than . . . getting it to the far side of the net quick, which I probably should’ve done, watching it back,’’ Lardis said. ‘‘But that’s a learning [lesson].

‘‘It doesn’t really get in my head. If I miss a chance like that, it’s not like I’m thinking about it the whole game. It’s just good to know if there’s another opportunity that comes up.’’

Faceoff to stoppage

Fans recently might have noticed the Hawks doing something strange from time to time: winning a defensive-zone faceoff, then immediately steering the puck to their goalie (Spencer Knight or Arvid Soderblom) to cover for a stoppage and another faceoff.

Blashill has instructed them to do this in a specific scenario: after icing calls in the second period.

Icing calls prevent line changes, and the long distance between the defensive zone and the bench makes on-the-fly changes riskiest during the second period. So instead of counting on getting the puck out and deep, the Hawks are willing to give up a guaranteed possession for a guaranteed change.

‘‘I actually learned that from [Lightning coach Jon Cooper],’’ Blashill said recently. ‘‘We did a good job of it in Tampa. Generally, you’re way better off getting guys off the ice that are tired.’’

The Hawks’ odds of gaining possession again off the next faceoff are not great, considering they rank 31st in the NHL with a 46.1% team faceoff percentage.

But they also have iced the puck 329 times this season (entering play Saturday), which is the 10th-most in the league, so the safer decision might be wise.