Split from Seabrook doesn't help Keith
Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville didn't limit his lineup tinkering to the forwards Wednesday.
With Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook off to ordinary starts, Keith more than Seabrook, Quenneville split up his No. 1 defense pair against the Coyotes.
“We're trying to find a little more balance in our pairings and minutes,” Quenneville said. “Hopefully that will make them even more effective in their game and in our team game.”
Seabrook skated mostly with Niklas Hjalmarsson, while Keith was partners with Nick Boynton. The shake-up didn't help Keith, who was minus-2 and turned the puck over on both Phoenix goals in a 2-1 loss to the Coyotes.
Keith played a season low 20:55 and was benched for the final 3:53 of the second period.
“I think everybody has stretches where they're on top of the game at their best and some games where you're looking to keep yourself in the game and get through it and better yourself and the team as well,” Quenneville said.
“He's been so good for so long, I don't think we're worried about it,” teammate Brian Campbell said. “Everybody goes through those situations throughout the year. We need Duncs, and he's going to continue to work hard like he always does.”
Said Quenneville of Keith and Seabrook before the game: “We're looking for more consistency in their game, that predictability. Whether they can provide it themselves or with a new partner, hopefully they can get their games back to the high level we expect of them.”
Keith is now minus-7 in the first 18 games. “He can be better,” Quenneville said.
Looking left:
Patrick Kane had just 1 shot on goal playing left wing Wednesday for the first time this season on a line with Marian Hossa and center Tomas Kopecky.
It apparently lays the groundwork for a line of Kane, Hossa and Dave Bolland when Bolland returns from injured reserve, likely Saturday at Nashville. Joel Quenneville split up Kane and Jonathan Toews just two games after their big night in Atlanta, when they combined for 4 goals and 7 points.
“We always have that in our back pocket,” Quenneville said of the Toews-Kane pairing.
Toews centered a line for Patrick Sharp and Viktor Stalberg against the Coyotes.
New all-star format:
The NHL officially announced the change to its All-Star Game format on Wednesday that will include what the league is calling a “fantasy draft” of players.
Fans still will vote to select the six starters by position. The league's hockey operations department then will name the next 36 players.
From there the six players voted in by fans will select two captains, who in turn will “draft” their teams Jan. 28 for the game to be played in Carolina on Jan. 30.
The captains also will select the players to go head to head in the skills competition.
“The goal of the all-star format change was designed to make the game more fun for everyone involved,” said Brendan Shanahan, vice president of hockey and business development for the NHL. “By giving the players more input on team selection, as well as skills competition matchups, we feel the 2011 NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft will inject more excitement and intrigue into all the events surrounding all-star weekend.”
Tip-ins:
It was a wild night Tuesday in Rockford with the Hawks' AHL affiliate beating Peoria 4-1 in a game that featured 158 penalty minutes, including 16 fighting majors. Kyle Beach fought twice. Jeremy Morin fought once and was ejected. … The Coyotes played Wednesday without captain Shane Doan, who is out indefinitely with an upper-body injury. … Jordan Hendry was a healthy Hawks scratch.