For Chicago Blackhawks, it could be time to shake things up
Enough is enough.
That's the way Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville apparently feels as he seems set to make some major line changes for Wednesday's game against Philadelphia at the United Center.
Skating on the first line during Tuesday's practice were Tomas Fleischmann, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, while the second line was made up of Artemi Panarin, Artem Anisimov and Marian Hossa. Andrew Ladd was dumped to the third line with Dennis Rasmussen at center (Teuvo Teravainen was out sick) and Andrew Shaw.
"Obviously, not the way we need to play, so things are going to happen," Ladd said. "You're going to try to switch things up and find a spark in some way."
The Hawks are coming off 3 straight losses, including a pair of complete duds in a 5-2 setback at Dallas and a 5-0 whipping to the Kings at home Monday.
The reasons for the changes are simple as there is an offensive dry spell running through much of the team. The ugly numbers include:
• Kane being held off the scoresheet for a season-high three straight games.
• Anisimov being held to a goal and 3 assists in the last 14.
• Panarin managing 3 goals and 2 assists the last nine.
• Shaw managing no points the last nine.
• And Ladd scoring 1 goal in the last four.
The breakup of the Panarin-Anisimov-Kane line might last one game, one period or one shift - or it might not happen at all if Quenneville changes his mind come Wednesday - but the coach apparently believes the team needs a spark.
"The one line's been together all year and there was probably never a need to change it," Quenneville said. "But I feel right now that a different look can help everyone and give us more balance throughout the lineup."
Said Kane after Monday's loss: "It doesn't matter who I play with in this locker room. There's a lot of great players. I try to bring the same thing every night."
Darling starting:
Coach Joel Quenneville said that Scott Darling will get the nod in net for the Hawks' game against the Flyers on Wednesday at the United Center.
"We looked at our schedule, we want to give Darls a home game, and it was the perfect time for this," Quenneville said.
It will be just Darling's third start in 19 games. He is 6-5-2 with a .914 save percentage and 2.51 goals-against average.
Keith, Teravainen out:
Duncan Keith missed his third straight practice Tuesday, while Teuvo Teravainen sat out with an illness. Joel Quenneville said Keith is "fine" and that Teravainen "could play" Wednesday vs. Philadelphia.
Slap shots:
The Hawks' power play has gone from ranking first in the league to third over the past nine days. The Hawks, just 1-for-15 the last three games, have seen their success rate drop to 22.9 percent. Washington (23.8 percent) and Anaheim (23.4) rank 1-2. … Patrick Kane needs 11 points in the last 12 games to finish with 100. He has 38 goals, 3 behind Alex Ovechkin for the league lead.