Line maneuvering pays off for Hawks

For the better part of Wednesday's game against Anaheim, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville stuck with his new line combinations.

But when it got to crunch time down the stretch, Quenneville started tapping Kris Versteeg on the shoulder as often as possible with the rookie responding.

In a 4-on-4 situation with the Hawks trailing 2-1, Quenneville put Versteeg on the ice with Martin Havlat. Versteeg made a brilliant move around Ducks defenseman Steve Montador to set up a goal by Havlat with 5:45 to play to tie it.

Minutes later, with 1:35 to play. Versteeg slid a neat little pass through the crease to Jonathan Toews for what proved to be the winning goal in a 4-2 Hawks victory.

"Everyone can make plays on this team, so it doesn't matter who you play with," Versteeg said. "Sometimes you've got to mix things up if it's not going well."

Quenneville liked the results of his line-tinkering. Not only did the line of Toews, Versteeg and Dustin Byfuglien get the winning goal, Patrick Sharp and Patrick Kane clicked again, with Kane setting up Sharp for a first-period, power-play goal.

The line of Dave Bolland, Havlat and Andrew Ladd generated 8 shots. Ladd won a key battle with Ducks defenseman Chris Pronger at the Hawks' blue line in the final minute with the Anaheim goalie pulled, knocking the puck loose for Bolland to put into an empty net.

"I didn't mind the lines," Quenneville said. "I think all the lines were probably generating the same amount of offense. Not one line was in our end consistently, and I think all the lines had some time in the offensive zone.

"I think going forward we're going to need more time to make a better assessment."

Versteeg continues to be perhaps the most pleasant surprise in the Hawks' season. In fact, it's difficult to imagine where they would be without his 7 goals and 15 assists, playing on either the first or second line.

"He's consistent," Quenneville said. "He sees plays, he makes plays, and he's got confidence with the puck. He's a competitive guy that doesn't get distracted by anything that goes on in the course of a game. He's got quickness and good imagination without the puck as well.

"He's played with some good players, but he's certainly earned to get more opportunities with those guys."

Versteeg's 22 points led all rookies in scoring going into Thursday's games. That was 3 points better than Columbus forward Derick Brassard.

"I couldn't even tell you if I was the leading rookie in points, "Versteeg said. "I don't care about that stuff. I just love to play.

"I came into the NHL wanting to make my mark because I never want to go back to Rockford. Nothing against them, but I love it here."

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=255874">Winter Classic coming into focus <span class="date"> [12/5/08]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>