Blackhawks reassign Bartlett native to the minors

The Blackhawks called up Tanner Kero on Tuesday and re-assigned Bartlett's Vincent Hinostroza to Rockford.

Kero had 6 goals and 2 assists and was a plus-7 in eight games for the IceHogs.

"My speed is probably my biggest asset," Kero said at Prospect Camp in July. "I think of myself more as a playmaker. I try to set up guys as much as I can."

The 6-foot, 185-pound Kero is a Hancock, Michigan, native.

Hinostroza appeared in four games, averaging 8:47 of ice time while skating mostly with Ryan Garbutt and Teuvo Teravainen. He won 12 of 29 faceoffs and took 4 shots on goal.

Toews tidal wave?

It took until overtime of the season's eighth game (vs. the Lightning) before Jonathan Toews finally registered his first goal of the season. Toews followed that up with yet another overtime winner against the Ducks on Monday.

Before the win over Anaheim, teammate Patrick Kane said the floodgates might be ready to open up for the Captain.

"I wouldn't say he ever loses confidence," Kane said, "but you could see (with) a goal like (against Tampa Bay) that was just all determination and will and effort. That's how he's gonna get himself going. …

"It seems like he does that where he goes in a little slump and he'll (get) 10 goals in 10 games. I wouldn't be surprised to do something like that."

Poise pays:

Defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk has seen 21-plus minutes of ice time in the three games Duncan Keith (knee) has missed. He's also become a staple on the penalty kill, logging 11:14 since Keith went down.

Van Riemsdyk continues to impress his teammates at every turn.

"As poised as ever, as patient as ever out on the ice," said Patrick Kane. "It seems like he's really hitting his stride too as an NHLer."