Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton reconfigured the team’s lineup Friday after a 5-4 loss to the Sharks on Thursday at the United Center.
Lineup
Alex DeBrincat — Jonathan Toews — Drake Caggiula
Andrew Shaw — Dylan Strome — Patrick Kane
Brandon Saad — David Kampf — Dominik Kubalik
Zack Smith — Ryan Carpenter — Brendan Perlini/Alex Nylander
Duncan Keith — Connor Murphy
Olli Maatta — Brent Seabrook
Slater Koekkoek/Calvin de Haan — Erik Gustafsson
*Extra: Kirby Dach
- Kane and Toews are split up after the duo generated only eight scoring chances and a ridiculous 30 against in two games, according to Natural Stat Trick. Nylander appears to be a healthy scratch for Saturday’s game against the Jets, with Perlini making his season debut. Perlini, however, is a goal scorer won’t be able to generate much offense on the fourth line with Carpenter and Smith. Caggiula showed some success with Toews last season.
- DeBrincat and Strome are no longer together. Shaw, Strome and Kane hasn’t been used before and could generate more scoring chances given the chemistry Kane and Shaw have shown in the past.
- The third line of Saad, Kampf and Kubalik was on ice for 14 shot attempts for and only two against and 11 shots on goal for and one against at 5-on-5 during the first period Thursday. Despite the success, Colliton promoted Kubalik to the top line, but all three players suffered from it. Kampf is presumably holding down the center spot until Dach is up to speed and ready to play. Dach, however, did alternate with Caggiula and DeBrincat on the top line./
Colliton on if he regrets breaking up dominant Kubalik-Kampf-Saad line last night (they were reunited in practice today):
“Well, it didn’t work. We didn’t win the game. You can always go down and open a different door.”— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) October 11, 2019
- Keith and Murphy saw time together Thursday after Gustafsson was demoted to the third pairing with Koekkoek. Colliton said it’s “definitely possible” de Haan could play Saturday.
- Colliton also said there’s a possibility Robin Lehner will start in goal over Corey Crawford, who has allowed nine goals in the first two games. Five of those nine goals land on Crawford’s shoulders with two own goals and one deflection he didn’t see./