Blackhawks’ Seabrook key on penalty kills
Brent Seabrook didn’t pull off any fancy spin-o-ramas against Anaheim on Tuesday like Patrick Kane, but the defenseman was just as important in the Blackhawks’ win.
Seabrook played more than 29 minutes, including 7:16 short-handed, had 7 hits, 3 shots on goal and 3 blocks in perhaps the best performance by a Hawks defenseman to this early point in the season.
“I thought he was real physical and had a real good game and was a factor with the puck,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “Defending against those big guys like he did, that’s a big night’s work, and I thought he did a great job.”
Seabrook and partner Niklas Hjalmarsson have become Quenneville’s shutdown pair on defense against top lines such as the Ducks’ Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry.
“That pair has been pretty effective game in and game out against top lines,” Quenneville said “When you’ve got a guy like (Seabrook) playing against top lines it’s tough on those guys, knowing he’s physical and can be wearing. It can make for a long night.”
Seabrook was a key in the success of the penalty killers, who killed five of six Anaheim power plays, including three in the third period.
The Hawks’ penalty killers were fifth in the NHL before Wednesday’s games after struggling most of last season in that department.
“I think we just rededicated ourselves,” Seabrook said. “We’re getting in lanes; we’re blocking shots and getting good clears. It’s four guys and (goalie Corey Crawford) all working together to get the job done and get the puck out of the zone.
“Crawf has been a big part of it, making huge saves when we need them. We know we can take some chances on the penalty kill to maybe break up a play and get a good clear if he’s back there standing tall.”
Roll call:The way the second line of Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa and Daniel Carcillo is producing, the Hawks might now have a No. 1 line with Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp and Andrew Brunette along with a 1A line.#147;Don#146;t tell Johnny that; I#146;m sure he#146;ll get mad,#148; Kane joked.The point is, the Hawks have four balanced lines that are helping to win games.#147;Right from the first to the fourth line, people are contributing all across the board,#148; Sharp said. #147;You can put 1A, 1B and 1C in there, too, with (Dave) Bolland#146;s line as well.#147;It doesn#146;t really matter who#146;s producing on a nightly basis as long as we#146;re getting contributions from somebody.#148;Good cause:Duncan Keith and his wife, Kelly-Rae, announced their new charity Wednesday, Keith Relief, which will help area families in medical crisis financially.#147;I#146;ve been here for a while now, got married this summer and starting a family, so it#146;s nice to be able to give back and find a way to do that,#148; Keith said.#147;We#146;ve got nice coverage with the NHL and everything, but there are a lot of people who aren#146;t as fortunate as us who are in crisis, medically underserved in the fact they don#146;t have the money to pay for those things.#148;The quote:Linemate Daniel Carcillo on Patrick Kane#146;s spin-o-rama Tuesday: #147;I#146;m not a spin-o-rama kind of guy.#148;Tip-in:Joel Quenneville said backup goalie Ray Emery likely would get a start in one of the three games this weekend.