Chicago Blackhawks' Panarin could cash in big in regular-season finale
The Blackhawks have absolutely nothing to play for in their season finale at Columbus on Saturday.
Nothing. Nada. Zippo. Coach Joel Quenneville's squad is locked into third place in the Central Division and will begin the postseason either at St. Louis or Dallas next week.
The same cannot be said for one of his players, however, as Artemi Panarin is tantalizingly close to a $1.725 million bonus. The rookie, who needs to finish in the top 10 among forwards in points or assists at season's end, is currently ninth in points with 74 and 11th in assists with 46. Nipping at his heels in the points category (with 73) are the Kings' Anze Kopitar and the Blues' Vladimir Tarasenko.
When I asked Quenneville if he would dare sit Panarin to rest him in a meaningless Game 82, he smiled and said: "No chance."
But is playing Panarin enough? Leaving Patrick Kane in the lineup would certainly bolster Panarin's chances of staying in the top 10 in points, or climbing up a spot in assists.
"I'd like to play in it," Kane said after the Hawks lost to St. Louis 2-1 in overtime Thursday. "We'll see what the coaches want to do, what the game plan is going forward.
"I don't think playoffs start until Wednesday, so you're kind of sitting around for a while. For me personally, I'd like to get some game action and then you can rest for those few days leading up to playoffs."
Said Quenneville: "There are only a couple guys who could come out, and maybe we'll look at that."
The injured Artem Anisimov, Andrew Shaw and Marian Hossa did not travel to Columbus.
Crawford playing?
Joel Quenneville reiterated Thursday night that he plans to start Corey Crawford in net at Columubs. Crawford has been out with an upper-body injury and hasn't played since a 5-0 loss to the Kings on March 14.
Scott Darling started 11 straight games in Crawford's absence, going 6-3-2. He suffered a tough-luck defeat against the Blues on Thursday when St. Louis' Vladimir Tarasenko tied the game with 1:16 remaining after jumping on the ice as the extra attacker. Darling blocked the initial shot by Alex Pietrangelo, but the rebound bounced right to Tarasenko, who ripped the shot home into a wide-open net.
"He did a very good job," Quenneville said of Darling's extended time in net. "He was good tonight, (and) outside of a game or so I thought he did a great job for us. He got us a lot of points, got some momentum back in our team game as well.
"He was comfortable and took advantage of a great opportunity."
Looking for more:
Bryan Bickell's first game with the Hawks since Jan. 8 wasn't exactly a memorable one for the 30-year-old forward. He saw 9:11 of ice time, failed to take a shot on goal and got the dreaded "OK" grade from Joel Quenneville during the coach's postgame Q&A.
"His ice time, when he has played here this year, has been minimal," Quenneville said. "That's the role and the job description - you have to find a way to make a contribution in the limited ice time you do get."
Impressive:
Richard Panik, skating on the top line with Jonathan Toews and Andrew Ladd the last two games, has really opened some eyes. He scored Tuesday in a win over Arizona, and had numerous chances Thursday against the Blues.
One came with 12:45 remaining in the second period when Artemi Panarin hit Panik in stride going to the net, but Panik failed to pull the trigger and instead centered the puck into open ice in front of goalie Brian Elliott.
Just more than seven minutes later, Patrick Kane fed Panik with a saucer pass on a 2-on-1, but the puck bounced off Panik's stick just in front of Elliott, and went careening behind the net.
Panik also rifled a shot that went just wide with 2:17 left in the second.
"I thought he played well," Joel Quenneville said. "As the game went on he got better and better and better, and was having a big third (period) there. Had some plays there where the looks were good. I just think (shooting) a little bit more might add to his game."