Blackhawks Line Combos

HOSSA-JONATHAN TOEWS-SHARP
KANE-SMITH-FROLIK
BiCKELL-DOWELL-PISANi
STALBERG-JOHNSON-KOPECKY


DUNCAN KEITH-BRENT SEABROOK
NIKLAS HJALMARSSON-BRIAN CAMPBELL
NICK LEDDY-CHRIS CAMPOLI

These are the lines from the final game of the season. Interesting that the Blackhawks had Kane on the ice with Ben Smith and Michael Frolik. Not a lot of skill playing with Patrick Kane on that line and I'm sure thats part of the reason the Canucks feel comfortable calling up Cody Hodgson. Even if Cody might be out of his depths with the Canucks third line, it won't be as bad as the blackhawks third line. This year the Blackhawks third line will be Bickell, Dowell Pisani. Thats a huge change from last year when they had Bolland, Versteeg and Ladd; and that line was the most deadly out of anyone on chicago.

Brouwer and Bolland are supposed to be back soon. But Bolland is about the same stage of Crosby in his concussion. He still hasn't been cleared to take hits. Yet Bolland will probably come back early and not worry about the effects on his brain. He'll just have to hope he doesn't take a big hit from Beiksa, Hamhuis, Ballard or Oreskovich. Injury riddled Chicago is in a lot of trouble against a canucks team that is mostly healthy. Troy Brouwer is also injured.

Seabrook and Keith are definitely a deadly defensive duo, more deadly than any duo the canucks have. the question is will that pair be able to shut down the Sedin's; probably not. There is no such thing as shutting the Sedin's down, only containing them partially.

-Hark