Timonen could be out of lineup for Blackhawks
Kimmo Timonen could be out of the lineup for Game 6. (USATSI)
Even though Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville did not confirm it, it seems likely that the team could be making a change on defense for Game 6 of the Western Conference Final against the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night.
Veteran defenseman Kimmo Timonen was not skating alongside Kyle Cumiskey, his defense partner through the first five games of the series, during the morning skate on Wednesday and was replaced on the pairing by David Rundblad. Timonen remained on the ice following practice for extra work with the expected healthy scratches.
When asked about the possibility of Rundblad replacing Timonen, Quenneville would only say, “We’ll see. It could happen.”
The Blackhawks acquired Timonen from the Philadelphia Flyers at the trade deadline in exchange for a second-round draft pick and a conditional fourth-round draft pick. It was a risky move for the Blackhawks because Timonen, 40, had not yet played in a game after sitting out most of the season due to a blood clot issue. He played in 19 regular season games for the Blackhawks after the trade. He did not record a point.
Timonen has struggled in the playoffs (again recording no points) and has been limited to just nine minutes of ice time per game. The Blackhawks have barely used their third pairing in the playoffs and have instead leaned heavily on their top-four, especially Duncan Keith who has played more than 32 minutes per game, a workload that few defensemen have taken on in recent years.
In 49 games this season Rundblad scored three goals to go with 11 assists.
Rundblad played in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final, his only appearance this postseason, logging just a little more than 10 minutes of ice time.
Timonen has had a wonderful NHL career with the Nashville Predators and Flyers but just does not seem physically capable of playing that type of major role on a contending team anymore.
The Blackhawks lost another veteran defenseman earlier this postseason when Michal Rozsival suffered a gruesome looking ankle injury in the second round against the Minnesota Wild.
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