With or without Toews and Seabrook, Hawks must fix power play
It wasn't pretty the last time the Blackhawks had to play without an injured Jonathan Toews.
After Toews suffered a sprained knee on New Year's Day 2008 in Los Angeles during his rookie season, the Hawks went 5-9-2 without him, and ultimately missed the playoffs by 3 points.
The Hawks may or may not have Toews Saturday night when they take on the Nashville Predators at the United Center, but the thought of potentially having to get along for any substantial period of time without the captain is a bit unsettling.
Hawks coach Joel Quenneville tried to paint an encouraging picture Friday when he said the head injuries suffered by Toews and defenseman Brent Seabrook against Vancouver shouldn't be long-term health issues.
"The progress they've had in the last couple days, we're definitely looking in the short term," Quenneville said.
Neither Toews nor Seabrook practiced Friday, leaving them questionable to face the Predators.
"(Toews) could play. We'll see in the morning," Quenneville said after Friday's workout. "He presented well again today, and we'll get a better idea tomorrow. They both could play."
Toews appeared in all 82 games last season when the Hawks went 46-24-12.
Winger Patrick Sharp believes this is a team better equipped to get along without Toews than the one that struggled without him in 2007-08.
"It's a little different team than two years ago," Sharp said. "The personnel is different - different everything.
"It's not fun to have two players like that questionable for the lineup, but we want them to be healthy and get them back as quickly as possible. We're playing with the guys we have in here and moving forward."
Quenneville said Andrew Ebbett would slide into Toews' spot at center with Sharp and Andrew Ladd if Toews can't play. Ebbett is more of a playmaker and offensive guy than a fourth-liner, which is where he made his Hawks debut on Wednesday with little notice.
The loss of Toews also would put John Madden into more of an offensive role skating between Patrick Kane and Dustin Byfuglien.
"When you lose one of your best players, if not our best player, it's a tough situation," Kane said. "He's our top center and has been playing really good lately, coming around after a little of a slow start there. But we still have a lot of depth here and should be OK."
It would help matters greatly if the power play got back on track. It's 0-for-8 in the last two games, including another failed 5-on-3 in the 3-2 loss to the Canucks.
Assistant coach John Torchetti put the power play unit through some extra work on Friday with a focus on 5-on-3 situations.
"Whether it's 5-on-3 or 5-on-4, we've got to hunker down on loose pucks and win those loose puck battles," Quenneville said. "We've had some too easy puck battles where we're not winning our share on the power play the last two games. Let's get back to basics, let's get hungry and be determined.
"I liked the way it was moving around and I liked the options. We're looking for production out of them."
Blackhawks game day
Nashville Predators at the United Center, 7:30 p.m. Saturday
TV: Channel 9
Radio: WGN 720-AM
What to watch: The Predators (3-5-0) scored just 11 goals in their first seven games before Thursday's 6-5 win at Ottawa. Forwards Jason Arnott (arm) and Jordin Tootoo (hip) are out; defenseman Dan Hamhuis (upper body) is questionable.
Cristobal Huet starts in goal for the Hawks looking to get the home fans on his side.
Season series: The Hawks lead 1-0, winning 3-1 in Nashville last week behind Huet.
Next: Minnesota Wild at the United Center, 7:30 p.m. Monday.