Blackhawks put Toews, Kane on different lines

Saturday, 10.19.2013 / 1:11 PM | Brian Hedger - NHL.com Correspondent

CHICAGO -- Looking for more offensive production, the Chicago Blackhawks are going back to what worked last season.

Heading into their game Saturday at United Center against the Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET, NHLN-US, CBC), Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville is splitting up star forwards Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. Quenneville did the same thing for most of the 2012-13 regular season, which ended with Chicago winning the Presidents' Trophy prior to winning the 2013 Stanley Cup.

Kane and Toews were on the same line midway through the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs and started this season the same way. But with the Blackhawks struggling to score more than two goals a game, Quenneville is ready to see what the old line combinations can do.

Marian Hossa, who didn't practice Friday but is expected to play, likely will move to right wing on the top line with Toews while Kane likely will slide back into the right-wing spot on the second line opposite left wing Patrick Sharp.

The game also marks former Blackhawks center Dave Bolland's return to Chicago wearing a different uniform. He was traded to the Maple Leafs about a week after scoring the series-clinching goal in the 2013 Cup Final.

Toronto likely will have forward James van Riemsdyk back on its top line after a three-game absence due to back spasms. Goalie James Reimer, knocked out of his start 32 seconds into the Leafs' previous game after colliding with teammate Josh Leivo, is expected to be on the bench backing up Jonathan Bernier.

Here is how the Maple Leafs and Blackhawks likely will line up Saturday:

MAPLE LEAFS

James van Riemsdyk - Tyler Bozak - Phil Kessel

Joffrey Lupul - Nazem Kadri - David Broll

Josh Leivo - Dave Bolland - Mason Raymond

Colton Orr - Jay McClement - Carter Ashton

Dion Phaneuf - Carl Gunnarsson

Morgan Rielly - Cody Franson

Jake Gardiner - Paul Ranger

Jonathan Bernier

James Reimer

Scratched: Troy Bodie