Blackhawks winger Artemi Panarin was one-timing shots into the net Tuesday night. Linemate Patrick Kane used his slick stickhandling to score and set up other goals.
It's only a week into the new season for the Blackhawks, but the team sorely missed those sights from its second line.
They made a welcome return to the United Center on Tuesday in the Hawks' 7-4 victory over the Flyers.
When you have as many young forwards as the Blackhawks have this season, it is natural to expect a period of adjustment. Coach Joel Quenneville has fiddled with his lines in every game to find the correct combinations. But there is one line Quenneville has been hesitant to break up _ Kane, Panarin and Artem Anisimov, one of the NHL's most prolific lines a season ago.
They had been quiet over the first three games of the season whether they were together or apart, but they showed why they were such a potent combination Tuesday. Combined, they scored five goals _ two by Anisimov, two by Panarin, one by Kane _ and had six assists.
It was a good sign for the Hawks.
"It takes a little bit to get that chemistry back," Kane said. "I thought we had some good puck possession. I thought our line played pretty well throughout the game. Anisimov made some great plays. We want to play with confidence ... and we'll keep building off what we did."
Quenneville has said he wants to create balance across all four lines. But it's hard to break up such a productive line, one that can carry a game.
"That line's had some better looks as we've progressed here," Quenneville said. "Those guys can do so many good things with each other as far as anticipate, protect the puck, make plays, strip pucks and they can turn it into something special."
That happened during the sequence that set up Anisimov's go-ahead goal in the third period. Niklas Hjalmarsson stole the puck in the neutral zone and passed it to Kane. Panarin skated down the right wing and took the pass from Kane and fed Anisimov for a seemingly easy goal. But it only appeared easy because this line has that kind of mix of talent and chemistry.
"Obviously every game is not going to be like that," Kane said "But if you can play with the puck, have that puck possession and make the plays we were making all lost year, hopefully we can keep moving along here and getting better."
It doesn't get much better than Tuesday.
