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Coach Q juggles the lines, hoping ‘a different look’ can help slumping ‘Hawks

Chicago Blackhawks v Minnesota Wild - Game Three

Chicago Blackhawks v Minnesota Wild - Game Three

NHLI via Getty Images

Monday’s 5-0 loss to the Kings means new lines for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Dramatically new lines.

‘Hawks coach Joel Quenneville -- in search of more “balance” and “defensive responsibility” and “consistency in the four-line rotation” -- put his former combinations in the blender, hit puree and came out with the following for tonight’s home game against the surging Flyers:

Tomas Fleischmann -- Jonathan Toews -- Patrick Kane
Artemi Panarin -- Artem Anisimov -- Marian Hossa
Andrew Ladd -- Teuvo Teravainen -- Andrew Shaw
Brandon Mashinter -- Andrew Desjardins -- Dale Weise

Most notably, the trio of Panarin, Anisimov and Kane has been broken up for the time being.

“The one line’s been together all year and there was probably never a need to change it,” Quenneville said, per CSN Chicago. “But I feel right now that a different look can help everyone and give us more balance throughout the lineup.”

Also notable, the trio of Ladd, Toews, and Hossa -- a combination the ‘Hawks were hoping would find some chemistry -- has been split onto three different lines.

The ‘Hawks are 1-3-1 in their last five and 9-10-2 in their last 21. With 12 games remaining before the playoffs, there’s no need to panic, but there is need for improvement.

“Juggling the lines here, hopefully we can find some chemistry and get that going,” said Shaw. “We just have to get out of this little slump we’re in and push forward.”