CHICAGO -- Ben Smith tried to deliver a balanced message Friday about how the Chicago Blackhawks feel about their second and third periods this season.

On one hand, Smith and the Blackhawks don't like the fact they're often being outplayed in the second period. On the other hand, they're ecstatic their third periods have been so good.

“You don't really want it to go that way where you have to come up with big third periods,” Smith said. “We're finding ways to win games. You have to be happy with that. Definitely something to work on there in the second, finding ways to stay consistent in our game. We got away from getting pucks deep and cycling pucks. It's always nice to come back in the third, though."

The fact is that the Blackhawks are a different team when it comes to the two periods. The numbers can no longer be deemed simply anomalies with nearly a third of the season now complete. Luckily for the Blackhawks, their third-period highs have been greater than their second-period lows.

The Blackhawks followed that trend against the Montreal Canadiens on Friday. The Blackhawks had a woeful second period, finishing the frame down 3-2 after being outscored 2-0. They returned to the ice for the final 20 minutes and took over, netting the period's only two goals, including a final one with 27 seconds remaining, to pull out a 4-3 victory at the United Center.

Friday's numbers included, the Blackhawks have been outscored 21-15 in second periods and flipped it to have a 31-12 advantage in third periods.

So, what's the reason for their second-period struggle? Blackhawks forward Brandon Saad thought it had to do with concentration.

"I think we come out strong and kind of lose focus in the second period," said Saad, who accounted for the winning goal. "That's something we're trying to do is build to play a full 60 minutes. That's how we're going to get wins."

As for the Blackhawks' third-period rise? Part of it is getting back to their style of game, but another element is not losing confidence -- and that begins in the dressing room during the intermission.

"We just do our thing," Smith said. "Everyone's chatting. Everyone's ready to go. We always say our third period is going to be our best. You want to build on every period. We've been so far, so good in that area. Like I said, we'd like to play the full 60 minutes. That's ideal, but finding a way to win games in the third isn't so bad."

Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville could tell his team never wavered in its confidence throughout Friday's final period.

"You could sense on the bench there was no desperation as far as we're heading in the right direction, let's be positive and finding a way," Quenneville said. "That's what it's always about. They did a good job about it."

Getting a couple of power plays early in the period helped the Blackhawks get going Friday. They capitalized on their second of the stanza when Jonathan Toews knocked in a Brad Richards shot at 4 minutes, 18 seconds. The Blackhawks' defense and goalie Antti Raanta kept the game tied until Saad delivered the dramatic winner.

"We have played great third periods," Raanta said. "It gets the whole team's confidence higher when you know you play good the last 20 minutes. Of course, we got the last goal, so it's even better for us."