CHICAGO -- The Chicago Blackhawks rarely hold team meetings.

Consistently winning has a lot to do with that. Teams don’t usually like to discuss their success too much.

Something has to be noticeably off for the Blackhawks to get together and address an issue. On Monday, the Blackhawks felt it was time to do just that.

After dropping six of their last 11 games, including consecutive home games to Central Division opponents, and allowing 38 goals in that span, the Blackhawks called a team meeting.

“Leadership stepped up and we've got to expect teams wanting to beat us,” Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw said after an optional practice on Monday. “We're a good team and we have a lot of great things going for us, but we haven't been playing our best hockey the past few games and we've got to come out there the rest of the year and push to make the playoffs.”

The meeting included players and coaches before the team’s optional practice at 11:30 a.m. Players and coaches spoke during it.

“Whoever it is in the room, it’s important guys step up, coaches step up,” Blackhawks forward Ben Smith said. “We’ve had a good enough leadership group here that we’re going to pay attention to everything those guys say. Obviously you listen to your coaches because they know what’s going on. They have a better grasp of what’s going on with the team. I think deep down individually we all know we have to be better. We have to get back to what brought us success earlier in the year. We’re looking to do that tomorrow.”

Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville has been emphasizing to his team to concentrate more on the details. He believes it’s something they have failed to do as of late.

“Details, little details eroded the last few games, more so [Sunday against the Dallas Stars] than the Winnipeg game,” Quenneville said. “Game in, game out, that can be the difference. Be it off a faceoff, be it penalty killing, those goals are preventable. If you’re doing the right things, maybe you’re not in your own end.”

Smith walked away from the meeting feeling the Blackhawks were better for having talked about their recent play.

“Every time there’s a situation, whether it’s here, at home or wherever, you talk about it, you feel better about it,” Smith said. “I think as a group it’s good for us to talk it out, get ready for [the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday.] The games are coming quickly here before the break here, four in six days, so we want to get our team game going and find a way to earn two points [Tuesday].”

The Blackhawks do have a sense of urgency to improve as the Central standings have gotten tighter over the last few weeks. They trail the Nashville Predators by six points and the St. Louis Blues by two points and are tied with the Winnipeg Jets with 58 points.

“Maybe we got comfortable knowing where we are in the standings. we’re making it tougher on ourselves now,” Quenneville said. “That should get everyone’s attention. But you have to play the right way.

“There are no easy games. No games you think you’re going to just get two points. It’s going to be a hard-fought two points every night. That’s where we’re at. Everyone feels they’re part of it in our division. You have to value those two points.”