ANAHEIM, Calif.Brent Seabrook didnt like sitting on the sidelines, and he was as happy as anyone to play again Friday when the Blackhawks beat the Anaheim Ducks.
Seabrook, who missed the last four games with a left-leg injury sustained against Edmonton on Nov. 13, played 21 and a half minutes Friday afternoon. He had three hits, a takeaway, a blocked shot and finished a plus-2.
He battled, competed and gave us important minutes as well, coach Joel Quenneville said. Hes a big part of the team and the leadership group as well.
The four-game absence was Seabrooks longest since his rookie season (2005-06) when he missed 13 in a row with a sprained left knee. Seabrook said on Tuesday that he probably hates being out more than anyone; he joked that the Blackhawks trainers were working hard to get me back on the ice so they dont have to deal with me. He was understandably happy to be back on Friday.
Its good to get back out on the ice but its nice just being in the room with the guys, having fun and just getting back into the routine, Seabrook said. Its just feeling like Im doing something here, not just being on vacation for two weeks.
D focus
The Blackhawks didnt allow the Ducks many shots and just one late goal in the third period on Friday. But defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson said they can still tighten up that defense that gave up four Ducks goals through the first two periods.
NHL
Obviously you dont count on winning when you let five goals in, said Hjalamrsson, who had a team-high five blocked shots and finished a plus-2. We have to try to cut those goals down against us. We played good the last game defensively but weve been a little too much up and down. We have to figure that out as a team how to tighten up the defense.
Briefly
The Blackhawks got back to their good third periods, where they are now outscoring opponents 26-14.
The Blackhawks had 42 shots against Anaheim, a season high. The previous best was 40 in their 6-2 loss to Vancouver on Nov. 6.
Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa combined for 19 of the Blackhawks 42 shots on goal. Toews and Sharp had six each, Hossa had a team-high seven.