Last night, the Blackhawks threw a couple of returning veterans into the mix (one, a two-time Norris Trophy winner), shuffled the lines, trotted out their starting goalie (who was coming off two bad outings)—and the recipe worked to near perfection.
A 4-2 win over the St. Louis Blues in their building.
"This is something we can build on," Duncan Keith told nhl.com after the game, and playing a game high 27 minutes plus just 3 weeks after knee surgery.
He's right.
Both goalies were good, but I would argue St. Louis' Jake Allen had to be better, robbing several Hawks on point-blank chances. One of those, a miraculous save on Marko Dano, may, in fact have been a goal. Apparently those knuckleheads in "The War Room" covered their eyes and threw a coin up in the air—and it came down "no goal." To my eye anyway, the puck appeared embedded completely in the deep part of Allen's catching glove, across the goal line. Didn't matter, the Hawks won anyway.
Yet again, the second line of Patrick Kane, Artem Anisimov, and Artemi Panarin was dangerous and productive. But so was the new third line of Andrew Shaw, Marcus Kruger and Teuvo Teravainen. The first line, largely snakebitten all year, generated numerous chances, but couldn't beat Allen.
You saw the awesome star power of both teams on display, with St. Louis' All-Everything RW Vladimir Tarasenko (2 goals) eclipsing Kane for first star honors.
What this game did for Chicago is serve notice to the Blues and the rest of the NHL that the champs are far from deposed.
There are still some question marks: a third pairing that was "ok" in 13 minutes last night (Trevor Daley victimized on Tarasenko's third goal, yet Daley was very effective joining the rush all night), and the ongoing audition at first line left wing, where Dano, Ryan Garbutt and Tanner Kero all saw time last night.
This raises an important question. The Blackhawks were better last night—a lot better than they were going 5-4-1 without Keith in the lineup. Better enough probably to be a playoff team, though in the über-competitive West, that is not guaranteed. Better enough to reach the WCF or the Stanley Cup Finals? That is highly questionable, maybe doubtful.
So does Stan Bowman have the heart or the assets to make a deal like acquiring a Patrick Marleau—who would look awfully good filling the obvious hole on Toews' left flank? Or to pick up another reliable veteran defenseman?
Especially when the price for Marleau would very possibly include a high upside—but not vital this year—young player like Teravainen or Dano (and more).
I'll be back later today with a quick Flames preview.