Toews returns & so does Hawks powerplay, beat LA 4-1

Jonathan Toews returned from a concussion after missing 6 games and helped spark the Blackhawks & their powerplay by scoring a pp goal on a subtle tip pass from Troy Bower that left Toews all alone in front of Kings goalie Jonathan Quick, and he promptly deked the LA goaltender to put the hawks up 3-1 early in the 3rd on their way to a 4-1 win.

Brouwer had perhaps his best game as a hawk - springing John Madden early in the 2nd with a quick backhand pass & Madden skated in from the right side & beat a moving Quick between the pads on a nifty backhander to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.

After Anze Kopitar tied it with his league leading 14th goal, getting in behind Keith & Seabrook in front of the hawks goal and tapping in a loose puck, with Huet out of position from saving a wide open point shot by Doughty, Brouwer then gave the hawks the lead for good early in the 3rd on the hawks first powerplay chance, deftly deflecting Patrick Sharp's wide shot past a startled Quick to put the hawks back up, 2-1.  It clearly was a planned play by Sharp & Brouwer finished it off with some nice handwork.  Sharp also drew an assist on Toews pp goal, digging out the puck from along the boards, where Brouwer was able to tip it forward on to an open Toews for the hawks 2nd pp goal in as many chances.

Andrew Ebbett got credit for the hawks 4th goal when Campbell's deflected shot heading wide bounced into an open net off Ebbet, who was off to the right of Quick & the goal.

But the story of this game was the work of Troy Brouwer along with his powerplay linemates Patrick Sharp & Jonathan Toews, as well as the play of Duncan Keith who assisted on the hawks' first two goals, and was on the ice for the hawks 3rd, another pp goal. (It seems Coach Quenneville had the same thinking expressed on this blog after the Avalanche game - reducing/removing Kopecky & Barker's pp minutes & replacing them with Brouwer & Keith/Seabrook.)  In fact, Keith led all hawks in pp ice time, including Campbell and his even strength ice time was reduced, with Sopel making up much of the difference. 

Cristobal Huet was solid, especially in the first when he made a couple of point blank saves, including stopping Frolov after a brutal Campbell giveaway, but overall he wasn't tested that often as the Kings managed only 18 shots in the game & only 2 in the decisive 3rd period, despite having 3:30 minutes of pp time in the final 20 minutes.

It was an important win for the hawks after dropping their last two - they beat an "above .500" team for only the 3rd time this season & first since their amazing comeback from 5-0 down to Calgary on Oct. 12, all at home.  Their -1 for 3 pp  vs. Colorado last Friday gets an early shot at redemption on Wednesday as the hawks host the Avalanche, and get Toronto at the UC on Friday, followed by the Sharks visiting Chicago Sunday to close out their week long home stand before heading out on their 6 game annual circus road trip.

Jonathan Toews' return was certainly welcome.  Hossa's scheduled insertion into the lineup at some point over the next few weeks will hopefully add similar offensive sparks...