Schmaltz adds spark to Blackhawks' top line
About midway through the Blackhawks' win over Dallas on Sunday, Nick Schmaltz jumped on the ice with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane.
Three seconds later, the puck was in the back of the net, with Toews feeding Kane for the Hawks' first goal of the night.
Although Schmaltz had nothing to do with the score, coach Joel Quenneville kept the trio together the rest of the night, shifting Richard Panik to the third line.
"He came on the line and he added a little spark, had the puck a little bit, made some nice plays," Kane said of Schmaltz. "We had some good shifts, some good chances with him there."
Schmaltz remained on the top line at practice Tuesday and will play with Toews and Kane to start Wednesday's game at St. Louis. Schmaltz has held his own skating in the bottom six forwards thus far, but Quenneville wants to see what the speedy 20-year-old can do playing with - and against - the best of the best.
"It's a great opportunity to play to your strengths, knowing that the quality and the quantity of ice time will be determined by how he plays," Quenneville said.
Schmaltz, who has a goal and 2 assists, said he believes his game meshes well with the two highest-paid players in the NHL.
"I felt pretty good last game with them," Schamltz said.
Said Kane: "You guys can see - he's skilled, he's fast, he's a smart player. … He's going to be a good one."
Motte out:
Tyler Motte, who suffered a lower-body injury in the second period Sunday, will miss two to three weeks. Motte (3G, 3A) has been perhaps the Hawks' most impressive rookie of the six that broke camp with the team.
Coach Joel Quenneville doesn't believe the injury will set back Motte in the short term.
"He's a great kid, works hard," Quenneville said. "You like his character, you like what he brought to our team.
"Certainly we expect him to come back ready to play and give us what he was giving us."
Slap shots:
Andrew Desjardins, set to make his season debut Wednesday at St. Louis, skated on the fourth line at practice Tuesday with Dennis Rasmussen and Jordin Tootoo. Desjardins has been out with an ankle injury that he suffered in the preseason. ... Richard Panik, who had been on the top line all season, skated on the third line at practice with Ryan Hartman and Marcus Kruger.