Dano promoted to top line with Toews, Hossa
When Marko Dano walked into the locker room at Johnny's IceHouse West for practice Friday, he noticed his red (and not black) sweater was out.
And that meant one thing: That he will be skating on the top line with Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa when the Hawks play at St. Louis in a key divisional matchup on Saturday.
Toews, Hossa and Dano had immediate chemistry in the first days at training camp, but Dano disappointed during the rest of camp and was eventually reassigned to Rockford. He's been back for the last five games, though, and has done enough in coach Joel Quenneville's eyes to earn the promotion.
"We've tried everybody so far (with Toews and Hossa)," Quenneville said. "Not everybody but just about. So he gets an opportunity. ... We're looking to find some predictability, stability, consistent scoring."
Toews has 5 goals on the season, while Hossa has just 1.
Said Dano, who nearly scored Thursday in a 3-2 loss to New Jersey: "It's a big opportunity for me. We played well in training camp at Notre Dame and now hopefully it's going to work again. I'll just go there, have fun with them and hopefully it's going to work."
On division issues:
With 20 percent of the NHL schedule in the books, the Blackhawks (8-7-1) sit in sixth place in the Central Division with 17 points, 1 point behind Winnipeg, which has played one more game. Asked about his "concern level" over the Hawks' slow start, coach Joel Quenneville didn't mince words.
"It's high," he said. "It's early in the year, but at the same time you look at our division, everybody picks up points on a nightly basis. You lose ground like you do last night (in a 3-2 loss to New Jersey) and it's tough to recapture.
"We know how tough it's gonna be down the road; not gonna get any easier."
Slapshots:
Andrew Desjardins did not skate on the four lines at practice Friday, meaning he'll probably be a healthy scratch for the first time this season Saturday in St. Louis. Watch for Desjardins to play Sunday vs. Calgary, though, as coach Joel Quenneville said it's a short-term demotion. ... Ryan Garbutt, who missed the last two games with an illness, will play Saturday. He skated with Brandon Mashinter and Tanner Kero at practice. ... Jonathan Toews has taken just 9 shots on goal in the last six games. ... Patrick Kane (11G, 14A) is on pace for 56 goals and 128 points. ... Artemi Panarin has a point in six of the last seven games. Teuvo Teravainen has one in four of the last five.