Dietz: Coach Q will keep Kane, Toews together
ANAHEIM, Calif. - The nuclear option, it appears, is sticking around. For one more game, anyway.
With a do-or-die Game 7 of the Western Conference finals staring him in the face, coach Joel Quenneville kept Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane together on the top line with Brandon Saad as the Blackhawks practiced Friday.
The combination was a big reason the Ducks were blown to pieces over a 3-minute, 45-second span in the second period of the Hawks' 5-2 Game 6 victory at the United Center. And Quenneville's obviously hoping it pays big dividends again Saturday.
"There's no doubt we enjoy the opportunity to play together," Toews said. "I think we understand the look that the coaching staff wants to give our team by keeping us separate. We try to go out there and make plays regardless of who we're out there with."
The question is, what will Anaheim do to defuse the Toews-Kane bomb?
"It's a secret. We can't tell them that stuff," Ducks winger Ryan Getzlaf deadpanned.
One big advantage for coach Bruce Boudreau is that this game is at the Honda Center. That means that after whistles, he can dictate which line (probably Ryan Kesler's) and which defensemen are on the ice to keep Toews and Kane at bay. Winning faceoffs will be huge for the Ducks, too because it makes it tougher for the Hawks to change on the fly.
"We've been good at home in faceoffs," Boudreau said. "Whoever usually gets the puck has possession and it's usually in their zone. Makes it difficult to change. Hopefully we can win a lot of faceoffs tomorrow."
Quenneville likes keeping Toews and Kane apart because of the depth it creates throughout the Hawks' lines. The two played career-low even-strength minutes (144:53) together this season, according to ESPN. If they do in fact play together Saturday, it means Bryan Bickell, Brad Richards and Marian Hossa will be on the second line.
Some of the Ducks admitted they're more aware when Toews and Kane are on the ice together.
"Of course," goalie Frederik Andersen said. "It's their best players so we've got to minimize their space and don't let them do anything too creative. If we do that, we can keep them from scoring or being a factor in the game."
Of course, the short-fused Ryan Kesler had a different answer.
"It doesn't (change how we play)," he said. "We have to keep the puck out of the net. It's as simple as that. It's five guys going against five guys.
"Obviously when you add Kane to the line it adds a little more skill, but our job's the same - keep the puck out of our net and put it in theirs."
Kane has 10 goals in the postseason and 3 in the Western Conference finals, while Toews has 7 overall and 3 in this series. Kane has had a shoot-first mentality ever since struggling a bit in the first quarter of the season, but he admitted after Game 6 that, when on the ice with Toews, he's definitely looking to pass more.
"They both bring unique challenges and they're two great players, so you have to be aware when they're out there," said Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler.
Sitting at the interview table Friday were three-fourths of the Hawks' Big Four on defense - Duncan Keith, Niklas Hjalmarsson and Brent Seabrook - so I figured it was a good time to ask them what they'd do to limit the damage of a Toews-Kane pairing.
Seabrook went another way with his answer, though.
"I've been lucky enough I haven't had to play against them, other than just in practice," he said. "But playing with them, it's fun to watch what they're able to do, join the rush with those guys, get them the puck, see what they're capable of."
Silencing the 17,000-plus Saturday would be Job 1. Accomplish that and it's off to Tampa Bay for the Stanley Cup Final.
• Follow John's Hawks reports on Twitter @johndietzdh.