Hawks call up dach after winnng in OT
Center Kirby Dach’s conditioning stint in the American Hockey League could have lasted 14 days.
But after only six, the Blackhawks apparently had seen enough of him in the minors to call him up from Rockford after their 3-2 overtime victory Friday against the Blue Jackets and the IceHogs’ 3-2 victory Friday against the Wolves.
Dach, the No. 3 overall pick in the draft in June, didn’t have a sensational three-game AHL stint in terms of on-paper production, registering seven shots on goal and zero points. But he successfully was eased back into game action after a concussion suffered in the preseason and introduced to the intensity of pro hockey, which were the primary goals all along.
It will be fascinating to see how Dach, 18, slots into the Hawks’ lineup moving forward, provided he sticks with the NHL roster. He can make up to nine NHL appearances before being sent back to his Canadian junior team (if the Hawks wish to slide his three-year entry-level contract forward a year), but he also could contend for a permanent role on the NHL roster.
The Hawks will hold an optional practice Saturday that should reveal more about their plans for Dach.
Toews’ OT winner lifts hawks
In a 10-second span of overtime, captain Jonathan Toews evolved from an aging player mired in a season-opening slump to the hero of the Hawks’ second victory of the season.
Toews blocked a dangerous shot in the defensive zone, sprung a two-on-one the other way, drove to the net and knocked in the rebound of a shot off his body to give the Hawks the victory.
For the first few seconds, he couldn’t help but smile and laugh after getting the figurative monkey off his back. Minutes later, he was all business again.
‘‘I wouldn’t say we’re super-satisfied with our play these first five games,’’ Toews said. ‘‘There are some positives there that we can build on. Given the fact that we’ve strung a couple of games together here, found a way to win these [last two] games at home, it’s a good sign.’’
The Hawks looked sluggish and sloppy throughout the first two periods, with only a goal by wing Drake Caggiula and plenty of spectacular saves by goalie Robin Lehner keeping them in the game. When they fell behind 2-1 early in the third, Toews had zero shots to his name.
But then Patrick Kane found fellow wing Alex DeBrincat for the tying power-play goal and the Hawks’ penalty kill, which went four-for-four and looked as staunch as it has in years, staved off a late Blue Jackets opportunity before Toews scored his first goal of the season.
‘‘We’ve just got to find that consistent level,’’ coach Jeremy Colliton said. ‘‘The Winnipeg game and the Edmonton game, that was a good stretch. It wasn’t a perfect six periods, but we did a lot of things right.
‘‘Tonight was not like that, I don’t think. But the opportunity to build on some points and a little bit of success . . . that’s a good thing.” ✶