Hawks want Bickell to start bringing it
It's getting to be that time of the season for Bryan Bickell.
His play usually elevates as the playoffs approach, and Blackhawks need it. After the 4-1 loss to Colorado on Friday night at the United Center, the Hawks are clinging to third in the Central Division with 22 games left.
Bickell played 10:03 against the Avs, and if that wasn't an unspoken message, coach Joel Quenneville's words were Saturday, after an optional practice at Johnny's Ice House West.
“I know that ‘Bick' still has some big hits a game and you notice him a little bit and he's dangerous, but that consistency is something that we always talk about with him,” Quenneville said. “We're looking at guys who are going to play hard. They're going to get rewarded, and that's where it's at. So, hopefully he can get more ice time.”
Bickell has 1 goal and 1 assist in the past 13 games and hasn't recorded a point in six straight. The 6-foot-4, 223-pound power forward was instrumental in the Hawks' playoff run to the Stanley Cup in 2013 and repeated his impressive performance last postseason.
His next chance to play that way is Sunday against the Boston Bruins (2:30 p.m., NBC).
“Personally, I've got to be (better),” Bickell said. “If I play five minutes, if I play 15 minutes, I need to bring it every shift. I need to bring energy. I need to bring excitement to the team, especially the home crowd, to lay a hit or anything like that. I've just got to capitalize on the minutes I get and hopefully help out.”
He's not the only one. A day after captain Jonathan Toews lit into the team's overall effort, Quenneville did the same. He said Toews' anger was justified. He talked, again, about forwards paying a physical price to get in front of the net. He mentioned hard work more than once and said it feels like “a broken record” talking about his team passing up shots for fancy passes.
“It's similar to playoff games,” Bickell said. “Not every goal is going to be a tic-tac-toe highlight of the night. Getting those screen plays, tips and getting the junk goals (is key).”
TVR gets another practice:
Trevor van Riemsdyk participated in a second practice and continued to show progress in his recovery from surgery to repair his left kneecap.
Joel Quenneville said van Riemsdyk is “very close” to being cleared for contact in practices, which is the next step in his recovery. A conditioning stint at Rockford of the American Hockey League could be part of the plan.
Changes coming:
Joel Quenneville said it's likely forward Daniel Carcillo will return to the lineup against the Bruins, which likely means either Ben Smith or Ryan Hartman will sit. Carcillo has missed three ganes, including Friday, when he attended the funeral of former Blackhawks defenseman Steve Montador in Mississauga, Ont.
Quote of the day:
“It's a stinker for sure, to a different level, but we haven't seen one of those. You see one or two a year on other teams, but tough to chew on that minus.”
— Joel Quenneville, referring to the goal allowed by Corey Crawford for the Avs' final goal on a dump-in from center ice.