Players on the hot seat struggle vs. Blues in 4-1 loss
For the Blackhawks, it's time to get serious.
After spending the first four exhibition games mostly evaluating prospects, coach Joel Quenneville plans to use the final two practice games readying the Stanley Cup champs for next Thursday's regular-season opener at Colorado.
The Hawks host Pittsburgh on Friday night at the United Center then close out the preseason at home on Sunday against St. Louis.
"Hopefully we have some clarity going into the last two games with what we see will be our lineup to start the season," Quenneville said.
Quenneville was looking for more of that clarity Thursday night in St. Louis, where the Hawks dropped to 1-4 in the preseason with a 4-1 loss to the Blues.
Only five regulars from last season made the trip just Tomas Kopecky and Troy Brouwer at forward.
The group of Jeremy Morin, Ryan Potulny, Kyle Beach, Igor Makarov and Viktor Stalberg were particularly under the microscope.
It wasn't a great night for Beach, who was minus-4. Makarov was minus-3 and Potulny minus-2.
Forward Ben Smith, who has quietly had a solid training camp, scored the Hawks' only goal.
Morin was stopped on a penalty shot in the third period. Stalberg had 6 of the Hawks' 31 shots on Blues goalie Jaroslav Halak and assisted on Smith's goal.
If there are two spots still to be won at forward it's Morin, Stalberg, Potulny, Makarov and Beach likely battling for them.
That's assuming Bryan Bickell, Jack Skille and Jake Dowell already have secured roster spots.
"You can't take anything for granted," Bickell said earlier in the week.
Skille left Thursday's loss in the second period with a possible arm injury and didn't return. Quenneville called it an upper body injury after the game and said Skille was day to day.
There were two fights in the first period. Beach came out on the short end of tussle with B.J. Crombeen while John Scott won a decision over Brad Winchester.
Rookie defenseman Nick Leddy made the trip but was a healthy scratch while Quenneville watched Jassen Cullimore and Brian Connelly. Connelly was minus-2.
The Hawks should have a mostly veteran lineup for tonight's game against the Penguins.
Corey Crawford will start in goal.
"We're trying to build for the opening game and then have a good season," center Patrick Sharp said. "Number one, everyone wants to stay healthy and be fresh going into the start of the season, but it comes down to the individual player to feel good about themselves and the way they're playing going into the season.
"Line combinations, power play there's a heck of a lot of things to be sorted out between now and the start of the regular season."