Blackhawks’ coach elusive on lineup

Associated Press

CHICAGO

The Chicago Blackhawks could go in a couple of different directions when it comes to their last two defensemen for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane could play together on their top line.

Then again, they might be split up against Tampa Bay.

Asked about his lineup on Monday, coach Joel Quenneville was just as elusive as his talented team.

Trevor van Riemsdyk was expected to travel with the Blackhawks to Florida, and Quenneville said he would be evaluated over the next couple of days.

The rookie defenseman is coming back from surgeries on his left knee and right wrist and hasn’t played an NHL game since Nov. 16.

The Blackhawks have leaned on their top four defensemen in the playoffs, and that much is expected to remain the same when they face the speedy Lightning in Game 1 on Wednesday night. But who lines up in the last two spots is an ongoing conversation.

“We’ll see on all the options,” Quenneville said. “Van Riemsdyk will make the trip with us. We’ll gauge him with practice tomorrow. He skated today.”

Kyle Cumiskey and David Rundblad occupied the final two spots in the last two games of the Western Conference finals against Anaheim. Veteran Kimmo Timonen struggled against the physical Ducks, but could get back into the lineup against the Lightning.

If the top four defensemen keep up their current pace — Duncan Keith is averaging a gaudy 31:35 of ice time — then the last two spots will play less than 10 minutes apiece. But those minutes could be important against the high-scoring Lightning.

“They definitely have a lot of speed. You’re right on that,” Keith said. “They’ve got a lot of skill, too. They have forwards who have really good hockey sense.”