Blackhawks Notes: Joel Quenneville Shakes Up Chicago Lineup
By Chris Emma--
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Keeping to usual form, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville didn't offer many details to his lineup for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday night.
Morning skate at the United Center revealed that Bryan Bickell is expected to skate on the Blackhawks' second line, alongside Brad Richards and Patrick Kane, while rookie defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk will likely make his playoff debut and play his first game since November.
"Could play," Quenneville said to respective questions about van Riemsdyk and Bickell.
Bickell admitted that he battled vertigo, the reason for his absence during parts of Game 7 and then Game 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup Final. Now that he's healthy, Kris Versteeg went from filling in on the second line to an apparent healthy scratch.
The 6-foot-4 Bickell will be asked to bring a physical net presence for playmakers like Kane and Richards. The Blackhawks were lacking that during his absence.
"I've never experienced anything like that before," Bickell said of his bout with vertigo. "Very weird."
The apparent addition of van Riemsdyk to the lineup would to an improbable story for the 23-year-old rookie. An unexpected signing out of training camp, van Riemsdyk played just 18 games with the Blackhawks before suffering a fractured left knee cap on Nov. 16 against Dallas. The injury required surgery and a long recovery.
While playing with Chicago's AHL affiliate in Rockford in a rehab assignment, van Riemsdyk suffered a fractured right wrist and another surgery followed. However, he recovered quickly and was recalled to the Blackhawks on May 22.
Improbaby, van Riemsdyk appears poised to play in the Stanley Cup Final.
"It's been a crazy year, with a lot of ups and downs," van Riemsdyk said. "It's crazy to be here and a part of this now."
No lineup decisions are final until just before game time, but all signs seemed to suggest both Bickell and van Riemsdyk will be back on the ice.
Kane, Toews are split from top line
A Blackhawks top line of Jonathan Toews and Kane is dangerous. These are two of hockey's most gifted playmakers, forming a dangerous duo.
But Quenneville needs to spread out the Blackhawks' depth. The duo is no more, with Marian Hossa returning to the right wing of the top line while Kane moves to the second line.
However, this doesn't necessarily mean Kane and Toews won't play together. With the Blackhawks being the home team, Quenneville gets to follow Lightning coach Jon Cooper with line changes. Quenneville gets the advantage to create potential mismatches, and he's been known to put Kane on that top line before.
"We got the last change tonight," Blackhawks center Marcus Kruger said. "It may be a little bit easier to match lines."
Neither Kane or Toews have scored in this Stanley Cup Final, though perhaps the spreading of lines will change that. Tampa Bay has a talented team, but can't quite match Chicago's third or fourth lines with the same depth.
The Blackhawks will try to counter the Lightning with their speed and skill. Scoring doesn't have to come from just the stars.
"We don't really care where the goals come from," said Kane, "as long as they're coming from our team."
Duncan Keith, the machine
In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and especially in this Cup Final, the Blackhawks have a definite on their side. Even Cooper realizes it.
"I know some things are for certain," Cooper said. "Duncan Keith is going to play 30 minutes. I'm fairly certain that is going to happen."
Amid concerns of depth on the blue line, the Blackhawks have a constant in their veteran defenseman. Keith is a tireless worker, and it shows on the ice.
Keith can play 30 minutes -- half of regulation -- with relative ease and has shown during this postseason that he can play overtimes, too. Quenneville is constantly calling upon Keith, and he keeps delivering.
"Nobody wants to win more than that guy," Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook said. "He's going to do whatever it takes. He's one of those special, special athletes that won't give up."
Follow Chris on Twitter @CEmma670.
