Hawks’ Carcillo calls out Backes
Not that the rekindled rivalry between the Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues needed any pumping up, but Daniel Carcillo probably has added a little more fuel to the fire nevertheless.
Carcillo aimed a choice comment at Blues captain David Backes on Monday for what happened in Saturday’s game at Scottrade Center when Backes tried to fight Jonathan Toews.
Carcillo said a guy like Backes going after Toews is something that can’t happen, although it didn’t surprise him the Blues’ center challenged the Hawks’ best player.
“That Backes, that’s one of his jobs,” Carcillo said. “Look at the guys he’s fought in this league. He’s a big guy and he’s tough, but he hasn’t really answered the bell with any really tough guys. He goes after guys like (Anaheim’s Corey) Perry, and he tries to fight Jonathan Toews. You just can’t let that happen.”
Carcillo didn’t let it happen, jumping in for Toews after sprinting from another scrum where he was trying to help Patrick Kane. If Carcillo can give Toews and Kane any protection on the ice then he feels he’s doing his job.
“It just gives them more confidence to do what they want to do,” Carcillo said. “And they should have that confidence. Maybe the last couple years they didn’t have that. Just make sure that nobody takes advantage of them, that’s all.”
Hawks coach Joel Quenneville liked what he saw from Carcillo on the first line with Toews and Kane so much at St. Louis that he stuck with that threesome on Monday against Phoenix.
“I thought he immediately looked like he fit in with those guys,” Quenneville said.
Kane appreciated having Carcillo on the ice with him against the Blues.
“He played a good game and he stuck up for us,” Kane said. “He’s a guy that, say me and Johnny are on the ice, a team might be lining up thinking about him a little more than another winger there.”
Hammer time?While Niklas Hjalmarsson was second in the NHL in blocked shots through the weekend with 71, he was 355th in hits with only 19 in 27 games. Joel Quenneville defended Hjalmarsson#146;s lack of hitting by pointing out the other things he does well.#147;I think his positioning, he doesn#146;t run at people, he contains and controls and influences very well,#148; Quenneville said. #147;I think sometimes when you want guys to be more physical, all of a sudden pucks are going through them. You might get the hit, but you#146;re compromising against you.#147;I like the way he#146;s playing defense. I don#146;t want to change too much how he#146;s thinking or how he#146;s playing because he#146;s doing a good job.#148;Daniel, my brother:Daniel Carcillo#146;s dad, Gino, revealed on his son#146;s debut radio show #147;The Bomb Shelter#148; Friday that Daniel was named after the 1973 Elton John song.#147;I#146;m just glad he didn#146;t name me after his father, Fred,#148; Carcillo joked.