A stretch of three losses in four games paired dwindling possession numbers were all coach Joel Quenneville needed to conclude that his team needed a spark. And his usual tactic for finding that ignition is making busting out his Line Blender™, as he did in practice on Thursday morning.
Alex DeBrincat was moved up to the right wing next to Jonathan Toews, with Brandon Saad remaining on Toews’ left wing. Richard Panik flipped sides and was on the left wing next to Nick Schmaltz, who still had Patrick Kane on his right wing.