Stopping Toews, Blackhawks a big challenge for Paquette

TAMPA, Fla. - Coming into the Stanley Cup Final almost nobody was playing better hockey than Jonathan Toews.

Reunited with Patrick Kane for the end of the Western Conference finals, Captain Serious played a huge part in propelling the Chicago Blackhawks past the Anaheim Ducks in Games 6 and 7.

So when it was time for Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper to devise a plan to slow down the Toews & Kane Express, which player did he turn to?

None other than Cedric Paquette, a 21-year-old rookie who spent almost all of last season with the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL. Paquette and his linemates did yeoman's work in Game 1, and much of the credit might have to go to Cooper for breaking the news to Paquette only moments before the opening faceoff.

"I don't want him thinking, 'Oh, my gosh, I'm going to have to check Captain Everything,' " Cooper said. "If he's been in the league a few years, it may be different. For Ceddy, it's, 'Go out there and do your job.' "

After practice Friday, Paquette said he prepared for the possibility of facing Captain Everything by paying close attention to what Anaheim's Ryan Kesler did against Toews during the last round.

"You try to (honk) him off as much as you can," Paquette said. "It worked a little bit, but Toews is a professional. He's not going to fight in that situation."

Paquette tried trash talking, but Toews "didn't bite." Paquette admitted to having some Andrew Shaw-type qualities in his game, especially when he played in juniors. But having a killer instinct and agitating a heady, seasoned pro such as Toews the way Kesler does usually comes from playing for five-plus years in the league.

"Now I'm a little bit shy," Paquette admitted. "I'm still 21 years old, in my first year. I'm just starting. Next year or in two years I think I'll do a much better job like Kesler did."

Going with the if-it-ain't-broke, don't-fix-it philosophy, Cooper gave all indications that Paquette's line would again be assigned to Toews in Game 2. Toews, Patrick Kane (when they were paired together) and Brandon Saad also saw plenty of defensemen Victor Hedman and Anton Stralman.

"They have a lot of good defensemen," Kane said. "They have a lot of guys who have a good reach on you. It's something we have to be aware of, especially when you have the puck. They can poke it from you.

"On the power play too, it seems like passing lanes close up a little bit faster. We have to be more aware of that."

Said Quenneville: "I think the one thing we found out, they're fast, they're quick. Technically they play a very sound and very fast game, a lot of pressure, not a lot of time."

Watch for the chess matches to continue in earnest Saturday as two coaches who are not very familiar with each other try to gain an upper hand in any way possible. Cooper knows that if he can keep Toews and Kane quiet with his third line, it will open the door for his high-scoring forwards and centers.

Of course, keeping any of the Hawks' big names off the scoresheet game after game is a monumental task.

"They have a deep lineup so it doesn't really matter who they put on the ice," Hedman said. "Toews and Kane and (Brandon) Saad - they have a lot of weapons in that lineup.

"Toews is one of the best players in the world for a reason. You have Kane, same with him. You can throw (Marian) Hossa in there. There's different combinations you can have.

"We know what to expect from them. It was a tough first game, and we expect nothing less tomorrow."

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