Blackhawks' Rundblad relishes opportunity to play in Stanley Cup playoffs
Talk about being thrown into the deep end.
That's exactly what it's going to feel like for 24-year-old David Rundblad when the Blackhawks begin the Western Conference finals against either Anaheim or Calgary.
Rundblad, who played 49 games for the Hawks this season, has never played in a Stanley Cup playoff game but is being forced into action because Michal Rozsival suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the Hawks' Game 4 win over Minnesota.
“Just make sure that you make the simple and the safe play and the obvious play,” Joel Quenneville said of what he expects from Rundblad.
The Hawks practiced Sunday, the first time they've been on the ice since eliminating the Wild in four games. While he feels “really sorry” for Rozsival, Rundblad said he's pumped for the opportunity.
“This is the time of the year you really want to play games and I've been working hard,” said Rundblad, who had 3 goals and 11 assists during the regular season. “We've been skating a lot and still have some kind of game feeling in it. Of course, I'm really excited.”
Rundblad was paired with Duncan Keith during 5-on-5 drills at Johnny's IceHouse West.
“He's got a great shot and he moves the puck good,” Keith said. “We've developed some chemistry as well throughout this season playing together, and I think it's just a matter of ... communicating and working together out there.”
With the Hawks just two series wins away from a Stanley Cup, Quenneville figures to lean on his Big 4 in the back end. The coach said Keith (30:38 this postseason), Niklas Hjalmarsson (24:39), Johnny Oduya (24:29) and Brent Seabrook (24:03) can handle an increased work load.
“They've all had games where they've played those kind of minutes,” Quenneville said. “They're smart enough positionally and aware of how they defend that they'll keep themselves in plays. At the same time, we still want to be active in the attack.
“I think they can manage it.
Will to win:
Captain Jonathan Toews doesn't read about the Hawks or listen to what's being said very often, but one comment from an opponent did recently elicit a reaction from him. It came when a player said the biggest reason for the Hawks' success is all the talent they have in the locker room.
That's true to a point, of course, but without using the word, Toews also said it comes down to heart.
“To a certain degree every team has a lot of talent,” said Toews, who went on to list all the veteran, prideful leaders on the Hawks. “I think mostly they (the team leaders) want to win more than anybody. We do what we have to do to have success to make the playoffs and throughout the regular season.
“To us, this is the season that matters the most. This is when we want to win, this is when we want to come together as a team. This is when it's fun to play. I think that's when you see these guys really rise to the occasion and score big goals or make big saves.
“Maybe it is an intangible, but I think at the end of the day it's a lot of guys with ability in this room that want to win for each other more than anything else. I know it sounds cliché and a little cheesy, but that's the most important thing to these guys.”
Some R&R:
Bryan Bickell went fishing in Schaumburg on one of his two days off. The winger said it was nice to rest and get away from hockey for a bit before coming back for practice Sunday.
“It was a good practice,” Bickell said. “The guys had good pace and excitement and we'll (soon) find out who we'll play in the Western Conference finals.”
Tip-ins:
Andrew Desjardins was ill and not at practice Sunday. ... Defenseman Michael Paliotta, who the Hawks signed to a 2-year deal in late March, went home to train for next season, according to coach Joel Quenneville. ... Bryan Bickell was appreciative of the extra time to prepare for his wife's first Mother's Day. “Hopefully I've started off OK,” he said.
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