"Despite The Outcome": Predators 2, Hawks 1

I have so much to say about this game I've actually been typing all night!  Okay, of course I haven't and, in fact, I missed half of the third period because of a sick puppers, but let me have a go, anyway.

* All Change: all four lines and each D-pairing were altered going into this game. It's tough to judge whether or not this gambit worked or not based on a single game.  A casual observer might remark "they lost - there's your answer", but of course it's not as simple as that.  Also, Coach Q shuffled his lines more or less back to how they were on Wednesday for most special-teams and in the late going when they were trying to net the equalizer, so there's that.  Despite the result, though, I saw some interesting things, some of which might be the result of the new line combos.  More on that in a bit.
* Shots!  The Hawks outshot NSH 44-30, which is possibly the first game in which they outshot anyone in weeks.  While that's quite encouraging, how come only one goal for?   How about...
1) Pekka Rinne was outstanding.  It's probably safe to say that his hip isn't bugging him any longer
2) More chucking by The Hawks, which I'm not entirely opposed to but, if that's the plan, you have to take a lot of shots to make it work, and...
3) Rebounds - Rinne did not yield many and The Hawks failed to pounce on more than a handful of the few he allowed

* Nick Schmaltz finally returned from his injury (despite "playing" the last four games) and was the best Blackhawk on the ice.  I don't know what changed, as I doubt Schmaltz' resurgence had much to do with Panik drawing in on his left, but it was terrific to see him moving with urgency and being so creative.  He should have notched his first point since Game One after flat-out taking the puck away from Subban.

* Kane's Penalty - okay, that was 100% a screw up by the referees.  It happens and we'll all move on but, man, that call could not have been more poorly timed, as The Hawks had put together a short string of great shifts and having to endure another PK really messed up their momentum.
* Defense Not All There Yet - it was generally a better effort than in recent games, and I see the six guys that played last night as the "ideal" group at the moment, but there were still a handful of ghastly things that went on.  Early on it appeared that the Seabrook - Forsling duo might be okay, as Seabrook took a more conservative role as Goose was more often the one to carry the puck forward.  That kinda fell apart with all the penalties, though, as Q chose to reunite Forsling and Rutta again for PK duty.  Kempny & Murphy were alright, which I can accept, and Rutta with Keith was mostly good; Keith was fairly solid defensively but, hoo boy, did he struggle with his passes, the worst of which arguably costing The Hawks the game, in which he threw Calle Jarnkrok a rose right in front of Corey Crawford.  Meanwhile, Seabrook only performed his signature bellyflop "move" once last night, which is an improvement over recent games.
There were still a worrying number of odd-man rushes by The Predators, though, but some of these guys might need a game or two to establish how they're going to position themselves alongside a new D-partner.  It's a work in progress.

                                     I don't want to know what was going on here.

* At Forward....I dunno.  The Hawks were buzzing the NSH zone for much of the game, crushing The Preds in the possession dept., but only one of the tweaks among the forward lines really caught my eye.  DeBrincat looked perfectly at home with Saad & Toews and could, in time, be the guy who can dart into the gaps to take a pass from the aforementioned corner-men.  That said, my dog could pot 10 goals playing with Toews & Saad, but I thought DBC looked good there.
Panik with Schmaltz & Kane...also fine, but I kinda think Panik is going to do the same stuff, good or bad, no matter what line he's on.  He could maybe have kept his feet moving a bit more to make more of his rather deceptive linemates, as he was often content to simply park it up in front of Rinne.  Another work in progress, I suppose.
Hayden was alright on the third line but it wasn't a large sample as they actually didn't play together a whole lot with all the penalties to both teams.  That's probably worth another look.
And finally, Hartman.  I assume his placement on the fourth line is equally punishment and "he has to go somewhere". He hardly played and I hardly noticed him.  With only a single point in his last six games and, to be honest, far too much goofy histrionics, lately, he needed a change, too.

Press on, I say, give these lines and pairings another game or three.  Q persevered with the previous groups so long while they were accomplishing nothing one hopes he'll have the patience to see this experiment through.
Colorado tonight, with both teams having played and lost last night, although The Hawks' can take heart that they coulda shoulda got at least a point vs. NSH, whereas The Avs were tuned up 7-0 by VGK.  Two teams with lots to prove AND NOTHING TO LOSE, ho ho.