Blackhawks’ core veterans make 2019 preseason debuts in win against Red Wings

The Blackhawks gave their core veterans ice time for the first time in the preseason Wednesday.

Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Corey Crawford all played as the Hawks beat the Red Wings 2-1 at the United Center.

The vets had little to prove — it was more of a dress rehearsal than an audition, unlike the situation for the organization’s depth-spot competitors — but did come through with a goal when Kane found Keith on a fast rush in the second period. Crawford was solid in net, making 23 saves on 24 shots.

“There are a few situations in a game that you just don’t get during practice that are good to see,” Crawford said. “Power play, obviously, we practice it, but it’s a little bit different in a game — guys aren’t hammering it in practice like they would during the game [because] we’ve got our own guys standing in front.”

A key objective of camp is to find linemates for the established duos of Kane-Toews and Alex DeBrincat-Dylan Strome. Alex Nylander played with Kane and Toews and picked up an assist — upping his preseason point total to three in two games — while looking confident and effective.

DeBrincat and Strome, meanwhile, were dominant with Andrew Shaw on Tuesday in Detroit. They didn’t play Wednesday, but coach Jeremy Colliton indicated he’ll likely try that trio together again.

“[Shaw is] an element I think will be good with those two, as far as just getting after the opposing defensemen and finding a way to win some loose pucks, and then those other two make some good plays,” Colliton said. “They played well enough to get another look, for sure.”

Colliton said he also liked Dominik Kubalik’s game again on a line with David Kampf and Brandon Saad.

Injury updates

The most promising injury news comes on the Calvin de Haan front. The defenseman has returned to full participation in practice the last two days.

He seems on track to be ready for the start of the regular season, which was initially considered unlikely after he underwent shoulder surgery following Carolina’s spring playoff run. De Haan said recently that a groin issue he picked up while rehabbing over the summer had been bothering him lately more than his shoulder.

It’s bad news, conversely, for John Quenneville, who was originally supposed to play but was scratched after the morning practice, with Tyler Sikura taking his place. The depth forward and cousin of former coach Joel Quenneville, acquired from the Devils for John Hayden at the draft, already had his work cut out to make the Hawks’ ultra-competitive forward roster.

Colliton said he had no update on Kirby Dach, who remains in the concussion protocol after a hit in the Traverse City prospects tournament.

New scoreboard has fewer ads

Fans on social media were up in arms during the intrasquad scrimmage Sunday after the new United Center scoreboard displayed a disproportionate amount of ads.

Thankfully, that proved to be only a short-term filler. The wraparound panels above and below the main screens, which were laden with ads, found far more useful purposes Wednesday: displaying the players on the ice for both teams and an array of team stats such as shots, hits and faceoffs won.

More new features are supposed to be unveiled during the regular season, including the lower panel dropping during goal celebrations.