Depleted Hawks fall to Predators
Dylan Strome’s injury may prove to be the tipping point that the Blackhawks can’t overcome.
Without Strome, Brandon Saad and Andrew Shaw bolstering the top six, a decent Hawks comeback fell short — and two empty-netters, including one by goalie Pekka Rinne, sealed the result — in a 5-2 home loss against the Predators on Thursday.
“We dug ourselves a hole,” coach Jeremy Colliton said. “Ultimately, we played really well in the last 40 minutes of the game, but we can’t be satisfied with that. [It’s] pretty disappointing because we wasted some really good efforts for some players.”
Adam Boqvist had a rough first period and the Hawks trailed 3-0, but they earned goals from Dominik Kubalik and Alex DeBrincat to pull within one with 14 minutes to try to tie it.
But the Hawks were, by necessity, sending the likes of Alex Nylander and John Quenneville over the boards, not weapons like Strome and Saad. And they just didn’t seem to have the firepower to break through the Preds’ hangon-for-dear-life defense.
“Shortened up [the bench] a little bit to try to generate more offense, but I thought the guys that were in, when they were skating, they were very effective,” he said. “We’ve just got to find it earlier.”
The lines the Hawks deployed for the first two periods were comically hodgepodge. Fourth-line center David Kampf skated on Kirby Dach and Alex DeBrincat’s wing. Nylander became the wing opposite Patrick Kane on his line. Quenneville, despite his lack of production, remained on the first line.
In the third period, Colliton consolidated Kane, Toews and red-hot Kubalik into one legitimately powerful trio, but the pickings outside of them were even slimmer.
The Hawks talked after the game about their need for a stronger work ethic and 60-minute
desperation, especially at home. But it’s worth wondering if this current decimated roster is truly capable of that.
Caggiula returns
Drake Caggiula said he went through a time, as his concussion symptoms dragged weeks longer than initially hoped, when he considered shutting himself down for the season.
But he stuck with it, eventually went nine days symptom-free and finally returned to the lineup Thursday. He played 11 minutes, with two shots and four hits, on the fourth line with Matthew Highmore and Zack Smith.
“He brings that element for us and plays hard, plays with energy, wins a lot of puck battles, wins a lot of races,” Colliton said before the game. “[He’s] willing to go to the net, which is something we’ll always like to have more of.”
Caggiula, who has experienced multiple concussions in the past, was injured Nov. 11 against the Maple Leafs, even though he didn’t realize it until he was on a flight two days later to Las Vegas. He was then expected to return to the lineup Dec. 5 in Boston, but suffered a setback.
In the last month, he went through a wide range of emotions — some caused by the concussion itself — but was helped through it by Shaw, who is out indefinitely with his own concussion.
“Shawzy and I talked a lot throughout the whole process on how to handle it and what we’re experiencing, how we feel emotionally away from the rink,” Caggiula said. “It was nice to have somebody along with me to go through that.”
VIKINGS at 49ERS
Time: 3:35 p.m. Saturday, Ch. 5. Line: 49ers by 7. Total: 44½. Records (overall/ATS): Vikings 11-6/10-7; 49ers 13-3/9-6-1. Outlook: While favorites are 4-8 SU/1-11 ATS in wild-card weekend over the last three seasons, they’re a little less daunting 6-2/4-4 in the divisional round in that span. Are the Vikings on a roll or due for a letdown? Will the 49ers be rested or rusty? Vikings O-line is a huge X-factor — great for the most part vs. the Saints, but the lapse in the second half was nearly fatal. Niners’ defense likely fortified by return of Dee Ford and Kwon Alexander.
Mark Potash’s pick: 49ers 23, Vikings 17.
TITANS at RAVENS
Time: 7:15 p.m. Saturday, Ch. 2. Line: Ravens by 10. Total: 46½. Records (overall/ATS): Titans 125/8-8-1; Ravens 14-2/10-6. Outlook: Resting your starters in Week 17 is the prudent move in this day and age with injuries so prevalent, but it still carries a risk for teams like the Ravens that get a bye and have two weeks off instead of one. The 15-1 Packers notably paid the price in 2012. The Ravens, though, have the ultimate igniter in QB Lamar Jackson and are well-coached by John Harbaugh. And their defense can key on Derrick Henry and still contain Ryan Tannehill.
Potash’s pick: Ravens 27, Titans 10.
TEXANS at CHIEFS
Time: 2:05 p.m. Sunday, Ch. 2. Line: Chiefs by 10. Total: 51. Records (overall/ATS): Texans 116/8-8-1; Chiefs 12-4/10-5-1. Outlook: Patrick Mahomes vs. Deshaun Watson is the featured attraction, but the Chiefs’ defense can’t be overlooked as a critical factor. Chiefs’ “D” was the key to their 5-0 finish, allowing 52 points to jump from 29th in points allowed to seventh. Andy Reid teams are 22-4 SU/17-9 ATS after a bye (including the postseason). Reid’s postseason history is dubious, but he beat Andrew Luck and the Colts 31-13 in this game last year at Arrowhead.
Potash’s pick: Chiefs 31, Texans 20.
SEAHAWKS at PACKERS
Time: 5:40 p.m. Sunday, Fox-32. Line: Packers by 4½. Total: 47. Records (overall/ATS): Seahawks 12-5/8-8-1; Packers 13-3/10-6. Outlook: The Seahawks look vulnerable here, coming off an unconvincing win over Josh McCown and the Eagles in the wild-card round. But the Packers and Aaron Rodgers have been vulnerable as well, struggling to beat the Lions, Bears and Redskins in the final month. Seahawks are 8-1 on the road. The Packers are 7-1 at home. Neither team has an “on” switch that’s as dependable as it used to be. So it figures to be tight throughout.
Potash’s pick: Packers 23, Seahawks 20.