New look to Blackhawks power play yields quick results

Five seconds.

That's all it took for the Blackhawks' new-look power play to pay dividends during Saturday's game against Vegas at the United Center.

Coach Luke Richardson, who'd seen his team's PP go 1-for-22 in the first five games, flip-flopped Connor Bedard and Taylor Hall on the wings in an attempt to shake things up.

After the Golden Knights were whistled for too many men at 1:25, Taylor Hall won a board battle and zipped a pass to Bedard in the middle of the ice. Bedard took a quick look then rifled a shot that found its mark over the left shoulder of netminder Adin Hill at 1:30.

It was Bedard's second goal of the season.

"It gives other teams another look, right? It's not the same old thing," Richardson said before the game. "On their one-timer sides, (Bedard and Hall are) just as comfortable."

Richardson clearly isn't married to the change, however, because Bedard returned to the left side for 3 of the other 4 PP chances. The Hawks failed to convert on any of them, meaning the power play is now 2-for-27 on the season.

Guttman sent to Rockford:

With Philipp Kurashev and Colin Blackwell both close to returning from injuries, the Hawks decided to assign forward Cole Guttman to the AHL's Rockford IceHogs on Saturday.

Guttman, originally drafted by Tampa Bay in the sixth round in 2017, was signed by the Hawks in August 2022. He scored 4 goals and had 2 assists in 14 games last season and scored 16 times in 39 games for the IceHogs.

He played in the first three games - scoring in the season-opening win at Pittsburgh - then was a healthy scratch at Toronto and Colorado.

"It's good for him to get back and play all situations down in Rockford, because he's going to be probably their top player," coach Luke Richardson said. "It's hard to keep your confidence level up in the NHL (when you're in and out)."

Kurashev, who inked a two-year contract in the off-season, had 9 goals and 16 assists in 70 games in 2022-23.

Tip-in:

Luke Richardson mixed up the forward lines up a bit by moving Taylor Raddysh up to skate with Connor Bedard and Taylor Hall. Ryan Donato moved to the fourth line and centered Boris Katchouk and Reese Johnson.