Spec at the skate: Tricks up their sleeves
Posted April 17, 2011 4:15 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
CHICAGO — Ryan Kesler’s line is winning the battle against Chicago’s first line, one of those games within the game that has top change — and change fast — if Chicago is going to get any traction in this series.
The unit of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa has combined for zero points and an ugly minus-7 through two games.
“We definitely out-chanced that line last game,” said Kesler at Sunday’s morning skate. “We had multiple, Grade A scoring chances. That is, I think, because they are pressing so hard to score. They feel like they have to score.
“If you make those guys play in their own zone, they can’t be dangerous in the offensive zone. It’s common sense.”
Kesler gets Samuelsson back on his flank tonight, while Torres returns from suspension to play on the Canucks third line.
Toews hinted there will be a few new tricks in store for Kesler in Game 3 tonight.
“He’s the type of guy we maybe don’t focus on enough,” said Toews, “We have to find ways to expose him a little bit. And there are many ways to do that.
“Give him credit, he had two good games. But we’ll see what happens tonight, I guess.”
“Kesler is a good player,” said Patrick Kane, who has one assist and has seen spot duty in Hossa’s place on that line. “I had the chance to play with him (on Team USA) in Vancouver, a great two way centre with a lot of speed. He’s been a big factor.”
Show Up, Or Tee Up
Plain and simple, Chicago needs more production from its top players.
Toews, Sharp, Hossa, Kane, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook or Brian Campbell have yet to score a goal in this series. As such, the powerplay is on a 1-for-26 run through Chicago’s past nine games, and is 1-for-25 against Vancouver this season.
Hossa, in particular, has been bad. He has just three goals in 24 playoff games since coming to Chicago.
“I don’t think our best players have been living up to par, that’s for sure,” Kane admitted. “We’ve got better in us. We need to come out and lead the way for our team. I think for all of us, five of us, six of us, or 20 of us. All of us know we’ve got better.”
Raffi Torres said of Kane: “It almost looks like he doesn’t want the puck at some points.”
“I don’t think that’s the case,” Kane said Sunday morning. “I’m a player that when I’m on the ice, all of us want the puck all the time, especially myself, I’m a better player when I have the puck.”
Big John
John Scott, the friendly giant who used to dwell in Minnesota with the Wild, is expected to be patrolling the wing for the Blackhawks tonight.
“Interesting,” mused the Canucks Tanner Glass.
Scott’s mission is pretty simple: Get in Roberto Luongo’s face.
“Anything I can do to try and get him off his game, get in his face a little bit, I’ll be there in front,” he said.
Scott knows the Canucks well.
“We go back to the Minnesota days. I beat up a couple of their guys,” he said matter of factly. “If I can get someone to go tonight I’ll be happy to oblige.
“I’m almost 6-9, 270, so I have to throw my weight around a little. I don’t want to get crazy, just hit as many guys as I can.”
Glass recalls Scott from his days in the Northwest Division.
“I remember him fighting Alex Bolduc, and it didn’t end so well for Alex,” Glass said. “He’s a big guy, and a tough guy to fight. He brings an element to their game that maybe they feel they’re lacking.”
Not Hurt, Just Sick
Michael Samuelsson has had that abdominal issue that cost him games late in the year, but that isn’t the reason he missed Game 2. Despite what us skeptics have speculated
“It was the flu. I don’t care what you (media) guys think,” he said Sunday, back on the Canucks No. 2 unit at the morning skate. “I can tell you, it was.”
OK – we believe you. Of course, with the nature of injury reporting in the NHL playoffs, we’ll really believe Samuelsson when Game 3 starts and he’s in the Vancouver lineup.
