CHICAGO -- Marian Hossa took a moment to ponder whether he’s ever experienced such an individual run as the one he’s had the last four games for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Hossa couldn’t come with anything in his personal NHL database. He had to dig a little deeper.

“Uh, junior, Portland,” Hossa finally answered while cracking a smile after the Blackhawks’ 3-1 win over the New Jersey Devils on Friday.

It was for the Portland Winterhawks in the Western Hockey League that Hossa scored 45 goals and recorded 85 points in 53 games as a 19-year-old. At the NHL level, what Hossa has done this week at age 36 could be comparable. Hossa has scored seven goals and had eight points in the past four games.

"It seems like things are going in for me, so I try to put the pucks at the net," said Marian Hossa, who has tallied seven goals and eight points in the past four games. AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast

Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville and Hossa’s teammates are running out of superlatives to describe his play.

“On fire,” Quenneville said. “He’s got it going. He’s got that touch.”

Hossa used that touch in the third period to get the Blackhawks back into the game. They trailed 1-0 and were 20 minutes away from dropping their third consecutive game, something they hadn’t done this season. Hossa prevented that. He first put a light, but accurate shot on net from the right circle during an early third-period power play, and the puck flew past Devils goaltender Cory Schneider.

“It seems like things are going in for me, so I try to put the pucks at the net,” said Hossa, who has 17 goals on the season. “I tried to surprise the goalie on that goal, and it went in.”

Less than three minutes later, Hossa was at it again. Hossa skated with speed through the neutral zone and received a pass from Jonathan Toews in the left circle. Hossa made a power move past the Devils’ defensemen and shot the puck as he got to the net. Schneider made the save, but couldn’t hold onto it. Toews followed Hossa and scored off the rebound. With that, Hossa has had a goal or an assist on eight of the Blackhawks’ last 10 goals.

The Blackhawks expected Hossa to eventually turn his season around. He had 10 goals and 153 shots through 52 games. He’s scored seven goals on his last 13 shots. His shooting percentage went from 6.5 percent prior to Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Blues to 10.2 after Friday’s game.

“He’s been working for this all year,” Toews said. “I think as a line, especially, we’ve been creating a lot. I think Hoss has been putting some pressure on himself, which is unfair. Everyone knows how good he plays all over the rink. I just don’t think people realize the offense he’s creating, especially when it doesn’t go in. It’s nice to see him fill the net as he has this week.”

Hossa concurred. He admitted his confidence was soaring, but he also didn’t want to tinker too much with his approach.

“You try to do more things when you have more confidence,” Hossa said. “The puck is with you, you try to do a little more. At the same time, you try to keep things simple and put the puck at the net.”

It worked at 19 for the Winterhawks, and it continues to work at 36 for the Blackhawks.