Troy Brouwer nostalgic on his return
When he took the ice for morning skate Sunday at the United Center, former Blackhawks forward Troy Brouwer took a little extra time to soak in the ambience of his old home.
“There were a lot of good memories when I got out on the ice this morning,” Brouwer said. “You‘ve got that comfort factor because I played so many games here and it was the only place I’d called home up until I got traded.
“It’s a lot of fun to be back, but at the same time my career’s moved on a bit.”
The Capitals acquired Brouwer in exchange for the 26th overall pick in the 2011 draft, which turned out to be center Phillip Danault.
“I had a small idea that something might be looming, but nothing concrete,” said Brouwer, who has 18 goals and 31 points. “When I did get traded, obviously it was a surprise.
“For me, I missed the city more than anything. The people here were phenomenal. The fans here were great to me. So that’s what’s tough to deal with the most.”
On the offensive:
It took until the final three minutes of the first period for Washington to register its first shot on goal.
Why such domination?
“Our transition,” Dave Bolland said. “We were getting the puck back, if the defense ever got it we were up pretty quick, and we were getting the puck deep in their zone and working them.
“That’s what we’ve got to do, is just keep that puck going north, and that’s going to be how we’re successful.”
Toews update:
Jonathan Toews (concussion) was in the building but out of the lineup Sunday for the 13th consecutive time.
Despite some of the captain’s recent setbacks, Hawks coach Joel Quenneville sounded borderline optimistic about Toews.
“You feel as if you’re always trending in the right direction; that’s where we’re at with it,” Quenneville said. “We’ll see how close he is to getting back on the ice. I think the last few days I would say he’s trending in the right way.”
Farewell:
Linesman Dan Schachte’s career came full circle Sunday.
The native of Madison, Wis., made his NHL debut on Oct. 6, 1982 at Chicago Stadium and ended it Sunday at the United Center.
Schachte retires having worked 2,009 games, the most by an American official in NHL history.