Toews, Bolland out Thursday; Could play Saturday


Toews, Bolland out Thursday; Could play Saturday

Jonathan Toews and Dave Bolland will go on this final road trip, but both are out on Thursday night when the Blackhawks play the Minnesota Wild.

Toews, who has missed 20 games with a concussion, is close and could play Saturday against the Detroit Red Wings. When asked why Toews is out for Thursday, coach Joel Quenneville said its all part of the process. Quenneville said Minnesotas feistiness in their game Sunday there were some big hits, as well as three fights in the first half of the game had nothing to do with the decision.

For Toews, just getting back on the road is a start.

Thats step one, he said. Its better than staying home and sitting around by myself. Its not fun to be home watching on TV in my living room; guys go on the road and you miss out on a lot. I feel like Im a little bit closer to being in the picture again and its better than nothing. Hopefully that means Ill be playing soon.

Bolland, meanwhile, has an upper-body injury that Quenneville said is not serious. Bolland, who has not practiced the past two days with the Blackhawks, could play Saturday in Detroit.

Brendan Morrison filled Bollands spot on the checking line at Wednesdays practice.

Andrew Brunette (lower body) practiced on Wednesday and could play tomorrow in Minnesota. Corey Crawford will get the start.

How Blackhawks physicality is adding new dimension to style of play

How Blackhawks physicality is adding new dimension to style of play












Behind the Numbers: Blackhawks third line driving possession against top competition

Behind the Numbers: Blackhawks third line driving possession against top competition

During the Blackhawks' training camp festival on Sept. 15, coach Jeremy Colliton discovered a combination he's grown to like in David Kampf, Dominik Kubalik and Brandon Saad. And it's the only trio that's stuck together through training camp and into the regular season.

On paper, it's not a sexy line. But they all bring different elements and it's translating to on-ice success.

When the three of them are on the ice together at even strength, the Blackhawks are controlling 59.7 percent of the shot attempts, 68.6 of the scoring chances and 76.9 percent of the high-danger chances, according to Natural Stat Trick. 

When they aren't on the ice at even strength? The Blackhawks are controlling 47.6 percent of the shot attempts, 46.2 percent of the scoring chances and 41.7 percent of the high-danger chances. 

Those are ridiculous numbers for a third line, and they're doing it against top competition, too.

On Saturday against Winnipeg, the Saad-Kampf-Kubalik line was tasked with going up against the Jets' Big Three of Patrik Laine, Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler and held them to three shots on goal for and three against in 14:06 of 5-on-5 ice time together. And on Monday against Edmonton, it kept one of the best lines in hockey in check, with Leon Draisaitl, Zack Kassian and Connor McDavid recording a minus-6 shot attempt differential in 15:25 of 5-on-5 ice time together.

The biggest mistake Colliton has made this season was separating the trio in the home opener after Kubalik scored a goal and recorded five shots on goal in the first period. He wanted to get the first line going and provide a spark by rewarding Kubalik, but the third line was dominant in the opening 20 minutes — it generated 10 scoring chances at 5-on-5 in only 4:30 together — and moving Kubalik away from Kampf and Saad really affected both lines in a negative way.

But don't expect Colliton to make that same mistake anytime soon. He learned his lesson and that's the last line he's going to touch if he's looking for a shakeup.

"They all just got real big motors, big engine," Colliton said. "They work and compete and they all bring a little bit different ingredient. Obviously like Saad is an accomplished, proven performer. He takes the puck to the net. He's a horse there. He's really hard to get the puck off, he transports it from D zone to the offensive zone, he can make those plays.

"I think Kampy is a workhorse. He takes a lot of responsibility defensively and can transport the puck from one end to another. Then you got Kubby, he's got a bomb. I've been very impressed with his play away from the puck. That's been a surprise for me. So now he can play on that line because he does so many responsible things. He wins a lot of races, he's a great forechecker. So, pleased with that line."
