Quenneville tries Hossa on third line
Having a dangerous four-line rotation is always a top priority for coach Joel Quenneville, and it's certainly a major reason the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup last summer.
This year, though, it has been a one-line show, and Quenneville's patience finally ran out Saturday in Vancouver as the veteran coach moved Marian Hossa to the third line, hoping to jump-start a team that has been relying almost completely on Patrick Kane, Artem Anisimov and Artemi Panarin for its offense.
The move worked as the Hawks played a more consistent team game, but Corey Crawford was only able to stop 14 of 19 shots and the Canucks won 6-3 behind 3 goals from Daniel Sedin and a 5-point night from his brother Henrik.
Skating with Hossa on Saturday night were Andrew Desjardins on the other wing and Marcus Kruger at center. The Hawks' top line had Jonathan Toews at center with Andrew Shaw and Ryan Garbutt as his wingers.
The changes paid quick dividends when Garbutt ripped home his first goal as a Blackhawk at 16:10 of the first period to tie the game at 2-2. Toews, who opened the scoring with a power-play goal 6:17 into the game, had circled behind the net and found Garbutt sitting in a gap about 15 feet from the net.
Of his new-look top line, Quenneville told reporters: “It was good. Had energy, had speed, had pace, had the puck, had some offensive zone time, scored. All the things we're looking for. It was a dangerous line.”
The Hawks, who fell behind 3-2 in the second period on a goal by Daniel Sedin, looked like they were going to get at least a point out of this game when Anisimov tied things up with 7:40 to go. Patrick Kane assisted on the play, extending his career-best points streak to 16.
Unfortunately for the Hawks, the Canucks got 2 more goals from Daniel Sedin (with 5:25 and 3:24 to go) before adding an empty-netter, and that dropped Quenneville's squad to 11-8-2 overall and 3-6-1 on the road.
“It's frustrating, especially tonight when you get yourself back into the game, you're playing well on the road, it's 3-3 and then give up 2 quick ones and you're out of the game,” Kane said. “Even though we got points in our last two games (in Edmonton and Calgary), I thought tonight was a better effort.”
Quenneville completely agreed.
“The last five minutes — throw it in the garbage can,” he said. “I thought we were good.”
If Quenneville can spark an aging Hossa on the third line — and Toews is paired with capable wingers on the top line — it only bodes well for the Hawks in the long term.
The Hawks certainly had more jump and consistent offensive push Saturday, so it will be interesting to see if Quenneville will keep these lines intact when they play again Wednesday in San Jose.
Slap shots:
Artem Anisimov, who has 9 goals, is now on a five-game points streak. … Entering Saturday, Brent Seabrook ranked sixth among defensemen with 15 points (4G, 11A). … Patrick Kane ranks third in the NHL among forwards with 21:03 of average ice time. … Bobby Hull holds the Blackhawks' record for longest points streak at 21 games. …
Daniel and Henrik Sedin are point-a-game players against the Hawks in their careers. Daniel has 53 points in 53 games, while Henrik has 52 points in 51 games. … The Hawks are scheduled to spend two nights in Las Vegas, then will conclude the six-game circus trips with stops in San Jose on Wednesday, Anaheim on Friday and Los Angeles on Saturday.