Quenneville: Blackhawks Need To Build Off Continuity
The Blackhawks saw an offensive explosion in the second period of their last game that brought to mind dominant stretches of last season.
Sunday night, against the New York Islanders, the Blackhawks scored four goals in the second period. They got scoring contributions from multiple lines, and four players ended the game with multiple points. This is the style of play the Blackahwks haven't showed this year. And it might be starting to develop.
"I think our lines have been very unstable all year," Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville said on the Danny Mac Show. "And I think it's due to guys being injured and coming in and out of the lineup."
LISTEN: Joel Quenneville On The Danny Mac Show
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Two of the most important players to miss significant time because of injury are Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane. Their puck possession and shot creating styles of play were greatly missed when they were out.
"I think Hossa and Kane coming back and getting their games back up to that level of expectations has certainly helped us," Quenneville said. "It looks like we have speed on all the lines, a little bit more balance from top to bottom in the 4-line rotation."
Last season the Blackhawks had arguably the best third and fourth lines in the entire NHL, an element that went a long way towards winning the Stanley Cup. But roster turnover and injuries have stunted the development of those line so far this season. But with a healthy roster, that development can once again continue.
"Hopefully we get some consistency," Quenneville said, "and some contributions, being scoring, from when [Jonathan] Toews' line scores, and [Patrick Sharp's] line scores and [Dave Bolland's] line chips in with a goal, we're going to be in pretty good shape. We haven't had that continuity, basically, for any significant stretch all year. Hopefully we can build off last game and take off from here."
