Poor 'PK' work killing Hawks
The Blackhawks spent nearly all of Thursday's practice working on penalty killing.
After allowing Dallas to go 3-for-3 on the power play in Wednesday's 4-2 loss, the Hawks found themselves 28th in the league in penalty killing on Thursday morning.
“Right now the hesitation is in our game on the PK,” Marian Hossa said. “We could be in the right spot, but the half-a-second hesitation, we just have to stop thinking and just go.
“We had a meeting today and we did it lots on the ice with the PK. It's being on the same page and don't think about it, do your job and just do it. That's how you become better.”
Hawks coach Joel Quenneville let assistants Mike Haviland and Mike Kitchen do much of the instructing as the team worked on penalty killing.
“There's a lot of things we can do better, whether it's lanes and shots, clears, pressuring together or stick positioning,” Quenneville said. “I think being confident and wanting to be out there is part of the solution. You get a little hesitant out there and a little gun shy.”
Leddy for Cullimore:
It wasn't the kind of significant shakeup some Hawks fans wanted when defenseman Jassen Cullimore was assigned to Rockford on Thursday morning.
Cullimore, who cleared waivers two weeks ago, was sent down so rookie defenseman Nick Leddy could be recalled today.
The 38-year-old Cullimore had become a regular on the blue line since being recalled from the minors on Oct. 15, and was plus-4 in 36 games with 8 assists.
“He's played pretty well for us this year,” Joel Quenneville said.
“You've got to commend him on how he took advantage of the opportunity and gave us some predictability and dependability. That's where we're at today.”
Leddy appeared in six games with the Hawks to start the season and was minus-1 with a goal. He just returned to Rockford after playing in the World Junior Championships and helping the U.S. win the bronze medal.
Let it rip:
If it seems as if Patrick Kane isn't shooting the puck as much since he returned from his ankle injury, he might agree with you.
“I seem to tell myself that before the game, but when you're on the ice you just want to make the right play and do what's best for the team to score goals,” Kane said. “A lot of people have been telling me to shoot more.”
Tip-ins:
With the New Jersey Devils set to trade veteran winger Jamie Langenbrunner, the Hawks aren't believed to be in the talks. ... Corey Crawford will make his fourth straight start in goal tonight.