Chicago Blackhawks: How Will Joel Quenneville's Line Shake Up Play in St. Louis?

Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville doesn't need an excuse to send out new line combinations.

Coming off a stinker Sunday night, it wasn't a surprise to see him shake up the 'Hawks from top to bottom.

The Blackhawks seem to be due for a reshuffling of their lineup after a lackluster effort in Sunday evening's rout at the hands of the Vancouver Canucks. Changes were made in practice Monday in preparation for this week's road trip.

The 'Hawks head to St. Louis for their first meeting of the season with the Blues Tuesday. Two nights later, they visit Columbus. If Quenneville sticks with the combinations he introduced at practice, this is what we could see Tuesday night at Scottrade Center:

Forward Lines

Patrick Sharp, Jonathan Toews, Michael Frolik

Daniel Carcillo, Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa

Andrew Brunette, Dave Bolland, Rostislav Olesz

Viktor Stalberg, Markus Kruger, Jamal Mayers

Bryan Bickell may have some time in the team box to remind him of what makes him a successful player. Olesz could see his first action since the opening weekend of the season.

Frolik (as opposed to Brunette) and Sharp should be able to keep up with Toews. Will that result in goals?

If Duncan Keith's injured hand allows, he may be paired with old partner in crime Brent Seabrook.
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Carcillo admitted that he boiled over a bit in Sunday's tilt with the Canucks. Hopefully he got enough out of his system to once again provide some spark to the second line.

The fourth line had one of Chicago's two goals Sunday when Kruger knocked in a rebound of a Mayers' shot by a nice hard charge to the net.

Defensive Pairings

Duncan Keith, Keith Seabrook

Nick Leddy, Niklas Hjalmarsson

Sami Lepisto, Sean O'Donnell

It seems hard to count on these pairings as Keith is not a lock to play Tuesday night. He did skate in practice, but things could look vastly different on the defensive end.

Steve Montador may be a scratch Tuesday, but if Keith can't go I'd imagine he gets the nod over John Scott. Cam Janssen is no longer with the Blues, so Scott's presence isn't needed.

Changes also appear to be on the way for the power play units, with Stalberg skating with the first unit in practice. The Blues and Blue Jackets are the only teams worse on the power play than the 'Hawks, so it's not surprising to see Quenneville shuffle the deck.

The Blackhawks have three beatable teams on deck in St. Louis, Columbus and Calgary this week before a tough stretch over the rest of the month. These new line combinations may or may not last to the opening faceoff Tuesday, but hopefully Quenneville can provide a kick in the pants with Monday's shake up.