Personnel tweak gives Hawks more balance
CALGARY, Alberta -- Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville's decision to split up his customary defense partners, particularly Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, continues to look like a smart move in terms of balance and flexibility.
“Whether it was a kick in the pants or whatever, there seems to be balance on all (pairs),” Quenneville said. “It seems like just about every minute in games you're comfortable with the matchup. They can come out with the top line and you feel you don't necessarily have to change right away.
“The minutes can be managed better and it gives a little more offense to our entire game when the defense is activated.”
After coming out of nowhere at training camp, Jassen Cullimore has become a regular on the defense. He now has dressed in 16 of 18 games since being recalled from the minors.
“One thing is you can never have enough depth on the back end,” Quenneville said. “He wasn't that far away from playing in the NHL when he was down there playing last year. He has been a nice addition and played very steady for us.”
PK becoming OK:
It's going to be a long climb if the Hawks hope to get back near the top of the penalty-killing rankings again.
The Hawks went into Friday's game against the Flames 19th in the NHL, and that was after a stretch of allowing 1 power-play goal in the previous four games.
“We're hoping we're better in that area,” Joel Quenneville said. “It was very good for us last year, very consistent. We like the start we had with it, but we had a tough stretch there for a while and all of a sudden we're down at the bottom.
“I think they've regrouped and refocused and let's take pride in keeping the puck out of our net. There are areas we can be better at whether it's entries or clears, pressure or denying shooting lanes.”
Patrick Sharp's short-handed goal at Edmonton was the second of the season for a team that led the league last year.
“The first priority of the penalty kill is to kill it off and shut down their best defensive players, but if you look at our forwards up front, given the opportunity we're going to attack,” Sharp said. “I'm not hopping over the boards looking to score or looking to cheat. I want to kill the penalty, but if the opportunity comes we'll take it.”
Blackhawks game day
Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena, 9 p.m.
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Radio: WGN 720-AM
Game notes: The bitter rivals meet for the second time this season. The Hawks beat the Canucks 2-1 in a shootout at the United Center on Oct. 20 on Patrick Kane's deciding goal. The Canucks are 10-5-3 and have the NHL's second-best power play. Six of Daniel Sedin's 12 goals have been on the power play.
Season series: Hawks lead 1-0
Next San Jose Sharks at HP Pavilion, 9:30 p.m. Wednesday