Blackhawks get help from some unexpected places in victory over Canadiens

BY SEAN FARRELL

For the Sun-Times

MONTREAL — Linemates Andrew Desjardins, Kyle Baun and Garret Ross had the kind of game Friday against reigning NHL most valuable player Carey Price that Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville will be happy to file away for future reference.

Baun scored twice after assisting on a goal by Ross, and the line centered by Desjardins combined for seven points in the Hawks’ 5-1 victory against the Montreal Canadiens in a preseason game at Bell Centre.

‘‘I thought they had a great night,’’ Quenneville said. ‘‘[Desjardins] had a big night. He had the puck a lot, and I thought we played a really good game. . . . The puck went in for us early, and I thought we had really good pace, good puck possession, and that line was really good.’’

Ryan Garbutt deflected a shot by defenseman David Rundblad from the right point past Hart Trophy winner Price for a power-play goal that gave the Hawks a 1-0 lead at 8:41 of the first period.

Desjardins got his line going less than two minutes later. He dropped a pass to Baun, whose shot from the right side was tipped into the net by Ross at 10:20.

‘‘He was a good addition to our team late in the year last year,’’ Quenneville said about Desjardins. ‘‘I thought he gave the team some presence, a little more bite to our team game, and the puck seems to follow him around. He’s good in tight areas, and the puck seems to go forward in scrum areas. So we like the attitude that he came to our team with, and he had one of those games that I might not forget.’’

Baun made it 3-0 at 13:48 when he knocked down a wrist shot from defenseman Trevor Daley from the left point and moved to his forehand to put a shot past Price.

‘‘I definitely had a little bit of a slower start to camp, but it’s been exciting to get into the exhibition games,’’ Baun said. ‘‘I personally like playing against other teams where you can get a little rougher and it’s more game-like, if that makes sense.’’

Desjardins got his second assist on Baun’s second goal of the game at 3:02 of the second to restore the Hawks’ three-goal lead at 4-1. The Canadiens’ Zach Kassian scored the only goal Hawks goalie Scott Darling allowed in 23 shots with an unassisted effort 25 seconds into the second.

‘‘I think we just did a good job of grinding it out down low and finding ways to get junk around the net, and that’s how a lot of goals are scored these days,’’ Desjardins said.

The line of Teuvo Teravainen, Marko Dano and Garbutt also got praise from Quenneville, who had little to criticize about the effort.

‘‘You talk about everybody, and you could have a very positive story,’’ Quenneville said. ‘‘Teuvo is really responsible in all zones. He had the puck a lot. He sees plays, makes plays, both sides of it. [Garbutt] gives you some speed, and Dano’s a threat to score. So you talk about every line, they were all good.’’

NOTES: Coach Joel Quenneville said winger Patrick Kane likely will start Saturday against the St. Louis Blues at the United Center.

‘‘I’ve got to commend him,’’ Quenneville said. ‘‘His approach has been very businesslike. He’s trying to get his game in order, like a lot of guys are.’’

— Quenneville said he expects to pare the training-camp roster down for the final week.