Blackhawks’ top line finally back together
GLENDALE, Ariz. — The last time Marian Hossa, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane were on a line together?
Toews remembers it very well.
“It was when Hoss first came to Chicago; the first couple of games together we were on a line,” he said. “It went well.”
Patrick Kane also has fond memories.
“We did well. We controlled the puck; we just didn’t get any production,” Kane said.
And then there was a long, long gap.
“I can’t really figure out why we haven’t been together since then,” Toews said.
Finally, the big three were back together, for Game 1 of the Western Conference quarterfinals against Phoenix.
“I think the three of us know if we just go out there and play hard, we’ve got three guys who can make plays,” Toews said, “It doesn’t matter who has the puck.”
And if it does?
“I’ll simplify my game and work as hard as I can to get them the puck and let them do their thing,” Toews said. “We know there’s a lot of pressure on us to go out there and create some offense, but we have to be smart on both sides of the puck, too.”
The growing game:
Rookie Brandon Bollig can grow a full beard in about four hours, so he’s the perfect guy to ask: Who on the Blackhawks is going to struggle the most growing the traditional playoff beard?
No hesitation.
“It’s got to be Shawsie,” Bollig said of fellow rookie Andrew Shaw. “He’s been working on a beard for like three weeks, and he only has a couple whiskers on his upper lip.”
So you’re saying the Hawks have to go deep in the playoffs for Shaw to even get some stubble going?
“Absolutely,” Bollig said. “Absolutely.”
Captain on Captain:
“It’s huge for them to have him. He’s their catalyst; he’s the guy that makes them tick.
“At the same time, it’s not going to change the way we’re approaching it. We all expected him to be in, we expected him to play.
“So he’s going to be a big part of it, and we’ve got to make sure we’re ready.”
— Phoenix captain Shane Doan on the return of Hawks captain Jonathan Toews to the Blackhawks’ lineup.