ARLINGTON, Va. — The Dallas Stars had just scored one of their two third-period power play goals Monday when Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau leaned over to talk to Eric Belanger.

“I got lost on the bench and forgot to use him,” Boudreau said at the team’s practice facility on Tuesday. “I went up to him and said, ‘Eric, I apologize. . . . I forgot to put you out there.’ So, that’s my fault.”

The Stars went on to win the game, 4-3, via a shootout, not that the Capitals have to worry much about losing out on a point as they sit atop the Southeast Division and Eastern Conference. Still, Boudreau says that’s no excuse not to
fully utilize Washington’s deadline acquisitions, which include forward Scott Walker and defenseman Joe Corvo.

“I’m a smart guy,” Boudreau said. “It shouldn’t be a problem to know what you’ve got and it won’t be.”

Belanger, Corvo and Walker have all seen a drop in ice time from their previous clubs, something that’s to be expected when they’re coming to a team as stacked with stars like Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin and Mike Green. But each new Caps player has recorded at least one point, with Walker nearly doubling his scoring output on the season with two goals against Tampa Bay on Thursday.

Washington also reacquired defenseman Milan Jurcina, who is expected to join the team by the start of the playoffs after he recovers from a sports hernia.

The Caps’ dominant position in the standings has made it an almost stress-free transition on the ice, according to Belanger.

“It’s a good position to be in, instead of thinking if I make a mistake and it might cost you a playoff spot,” Belanger said.

Wallker said their presence in the locker room is a reminder that not every team around the league has it so easy.

“When we come in, it reinforces that this isn’t the way it is at other places around the league,” Walker said. “What, the Capitals have 13 losses? I think we had that in our first month. You have to appreciate the game and work hard,
but you also have to enjoy that you have a good team. It doesn’t come along very often.”

His former club, the Carolina Hurricanes, lost 10 of 12 games in October. The Hurricanes haves struggled to right themselves ever since, although their 6-3 victory on Dec. 28 marked the last time the Capitals (44-13-9 ) have
lost in regulation at Verizon Center.

Carolina (27-31-7) enters Wednesday’s game at Verizon winners of eight of their last 10 games.

“The Hurricanes were last for a long time, so teams started taking them for granted,” Walker said. “They’re a good team. Things were just not clicking or working right at the beginning. All that skill is coming out now.”

Corvo, who was acquired from Carolina in a separate deadline trade, said he’s worried more about getting lost at the team’s practice rink that sits atop the parking garage of a mall than playing his old club.

“This facility is pretty big,” Corvo smiled. “I’m just trying to find my way around this place most of the time. Once I get that down, it will all be second nature.”

On Feb. 3, Jeff and Dorie Christian picked up their 8-year-old daughter Ryan, their only child, from school and spent the rest of the day as a family. In their latest hometown of Independence, Mo. — Jeff is a 20-year pro hockey player now playing in the Central League — the Christians went to Walmart and watched Ryan practice with her basketball team.

“Just a nice, normal, beautiful day,” said Jeff, a 1988 second-round pick of the New Jersey Devils and now a player-assistant coach with the Missouri Mavericks.

The next day, Ryan came home early from school complaining of headaches. When her mother attempted to wake her a few hours later for a doctor’s appointment, the young girl was unresponsive. Ryan was taken to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., where doctors stabilized her and performed a CAT scan and MRI. While at the hospital, she began to suffer seizures caused by extremely high blood pressure. More tests followed until the answer finally came.

Ryan had a tumor on her adrenal gland that needed to be removed — immediately. The diagnosis was Pedriatric Adrenalcortical Carcinoma, cancer near her kidney that is considered to be a one-in-a-million case. Today, she is under the care of the renowned physicians at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis.


Now, 39-year-old Jeff Christian, who has stood up for his teammates in the Devils and Penguins organizations, on teams in Germany and England and across every level of hockey in North America, is standing up for his daughter.

And the hockey community is standing right beside him.

“The support has been incredible,” said Christian, who played 18 NHL games with the Devils and Penguins. “When I think of the quality of people I’ve met through my years in this game, I guess it’s not a surprise.”

As Ryan undergoes her second cycle of chemotherapy — the fifth and final dose will be given intravenously on Tuesday — Jeff and Dorie are her strength while they humbly accept the generosity of their friends and family. On Saturday, the Mavericks’ game against Odessa will be one giant fundraiser for the Ryan Christian Love Fund, set up to financially assist the family. As a Central League player, Jeff’s medical insurance runs out two weeks after the season.

So many people Jeff and Dorie have met during their life together in hockey have reached out. Among the dozens of items available for auction Saturday is a signed goalie stick from Martin Brodeur. Turns out a staffer at Sher-wood, the equipment manufacturer, heard of Ryan’s saga.

Jeff Christian has been in his share of fights in the minor leagues — he has over 20,000 penalty minutes in his North American hockey career — but he has made twice as many friends. Last week, Jeff’s Mavericks had another rugged battle against the rival Tulsa Oilers, one of his former teams. A few minutes after the game was over, Tulsa general manager Taylor Hall walked down the locker room corridor with a gift. “The boys got together and we raised some money,” Hall told Christian. “Our prayers are with you, and we hope this helps.”

Jeff’s hockey games are usually on the weekends, so he leaves Memphis to re-join his team when he feels it’s right. He hasn’t had much time to skate or work out while spending his days and nights in St. Jude’s, but as he says, “I’m playing on emotion. I’ve got plenty.”

As if by fate, the Mavericks are headed for a first-round playoff series against the Mississippi River Kings. Those games will be just a three-hour drive from the hospital. “And check this out,” the 6-2, 210-pound forward said. “A bunch of guys from the River Kings, players I’ve battled against and will in those playoffs, they’ve told us their homes are our homes if we ever need anything.”

His loyalty to the Mavericks, a first-year expansion team in the Central League, is deep. “They’ve done so much for us,” he said, “that I know we’ll never be able to re-pay them.” The Mavericks know, however, that if Ryan needs her daddy, family has to come first.

“Dorie and I, not a day went by when we didn’t tell Ryan how much we loved her,” said Jeff. “We did it every day for eight years. Since Ryan got sick, we have a new routine. We end the night by saying, ‘Ryan — you are strong, healthy and loved.’ Then we kiss her.

“We want Ryan to know we’ll do anything humanly possible to help her through this. She is our girl. She is our life.”

If you would like to donate, please make checks payable to the Ryan Christian Love Fund. Donations may be sent to Missouri Mavericks, 19100 E. Valley View Parkway, Independence, MO 64055.

Every Tuesday, FanHouse profiles the top NHL prospects playing college hockey.

There aren’t many players in college hockey who haven’t been eligible for the NHL Draft yet. Even most kids who go straight to college hockey out of high school — bypassing a year or two of junior hockey — are old enough to be drafted before they start college.

One of the exceptions to this general rule is Harvard freshman defenseman Danny Biega. The blue-liner should be a second- or third-round pick this summer, and he has only helped himself with a steady first season for the Crimson.

Biega — who has two older brothers, Alex (NHL rights: Buffalo) and Michael (undrafted), also playing for Harvard — scored two goals during a weekend sweep of Princeton to start the ECAC playoffs. The Crimson, who finished tied for ninth in the final league standings, won 4-2 Friday (thanks to four third-period goals) and 3-0 Saturday to move into a quarterfinal series at Cornell this weekend.

While first-round pick Louis Leblanc (Montreal) gets a lot of publicity, the rebuilding Crimson have plenty of promising young players. Alex Killorn (Tampa Bay), Alex Fallstrom (Boston), and Conor Morrison (undrafted) are all underclassmen who are producing for Harvard, and the future is certainly bright for head coach Ted Donato.

Danny Biega only has five goals and eight points, but he’s played in 30 games and continues to get better. The Montreal native got caught in a controversy earlier in the year, as a hit on Brown’s Jesse Fratkin led to Biega getting suspended for a game while Fratkin got some 40 stitches to his face.

Biega ranked 31st among North American skaters in Central Scouting’s midterm rankings, and if he continues to play well, he may move up the final chart and cement his early-round status this summer. Biega isn’t terribly big, listed as six feet tall, but he plays with an edge and can contribute offensively.

Other college players on the Central Scouting midterm list include Notre Dame freshman Riley Sheahan (fifth), Tyler Pitlick of Minnesota State, Mankato (21st), and Wisconsin freshman defenseman John Ramage (187th).

Other Players to Watch

Two wins over Michigan Tech — 5-1 Friday and 3-2 Saturday — gave North Dakota home-ice advantage for the first round of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs. Sophomore Jason Gregoire (N.Y. Islanders) scored twice Saturday as the Fighting Sioux rallied from a 2-0 deficit. Gregoire added a goal and an assist in Friday’s win, while freshman Danny Kristo (Montreal) had a three-point weekend.

Wisconsin clinched second in the WCHA with a 3-2 win over Minnesota Friday night. Freshman Craig Smith (Nashville) scored twice, including the game-winner with less than five minutes to play. Minnesota won 6-1 Sunday, thanks to two goals by senior co-captain Tony Lucia (San Jose).

After picking up two assists in a 5-2 win Friday, Michigan forward Louie Caporusso (Ottawa) helped close out Lake Superior State (Mich.) with a hat trick in Saturday’s 6-0 triumph. The Wolverines move on to face rival Michigan State this weekend in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association quarterfinals.

New Hampshire clinched the Hockey East regular-season title Friday night, thanks to a three-goal comeback against Boston College. The Wildcats rallied from 3-0 down to gain a 3-3 tie and the point they needed to clinch. Defenseman Blake Kessel (N.Y. Islanders) got the equalizer with 3:55 to play. Boston College won Saturday’s rematch 3-2 on Paul Carey’s (Colorado) game-winner early in the third period.

The first NCAA hockey tournaments begin this week. In Division III men’s hockey, the 11-team field begins play with three first-round games Wednesday night. The Frozen Four is March 19 and 20 in Lake Placid, N.Y. The Division I women’s tournament is an eight-team event that starts with quarterfinal games at campus sites Saturday. Their Frozen Four is March 19 and 21 in Minneapolis. The women’s Division III tournament features seven teams, and it plays down to a Frozen Four starting March 19, hosted by top seed and defending champion Amherst (Mass.). Pairings are below.

NCAA Division III Men’s Tournament
First Round – Wednesday
Curry (Mass.) at Elmira (N.Y.)
St. Thomas (Minn.) at Gustavus Adolphus (Minn.)
Adrian (Mich.) at St. Norbert (Wis.)
Quarterfinals – Saturday
Curry/Elmira winner at Norwich (Vt.)
Plattsburgh (N.Y.) at Middlebury (Vt.)
Bowdoin (Maine) at Oswego (N.Y.)
St. Thomas/Gustavus winner vs. Adrian/St. Norbert winner (site TBA)

NCAA Division I Women’s Tournament
Quarterfinals – Saturday
No. 8 Boston University at No. 1 Mercyhurst (Pa.)
No. 7 New Hampshire at No. 2 Minnesota Duluth
No. 6 Clarkson (N.Y.) at No. 3 Minnesota
No. 5 Cornell at No. 4 Harvard

NCAA Division III Women’s Tournament
Quarterfinals – Saturday
No. 1 Amherst (Mass.) – bye
No. 7 Trinity (Conn.) at No. 2 Elmira (N.Y.)
No. 6 Norwich (Vt.) at No. 3 Plattsburgh (N.Y.)
No. 5 Wisconsin-River Falls at No. 4 Gustavus Adolphus (Minn.)

On Monday, we showed you the good fortune of Montreal’s Brian Gionta in the shootout when Anaheim goaltender Jonas Hiller accidentally dropped the puck into the net, giving the Canadiens the eventual game-winning goal.

Later that night, Washington’s Alexander Semin provided us with some unintentional comedy during his shootout attempt against the Dallas Stars.

After seeing that the first thing that comes to mind is the greatest shootout attempt in NHL history, Dennis Wideman when he was playing for the St. Louis Blues.

Even though they fell behind 2-0 and were out-shot by a 52-26 margin, the Stars still managed to come from behind and win, 4-3.

While everyone is yelling for Pittsburgh Penguin Matt Cooke to be suspended — rightfully so — for his dirty hit on Boston’s Marc Savard Sunday, we should all take some stock as to how we got here.

Over the last ten months or so, numerous incidents have called into question the NHL’s ability to hold any sort of consistent line on supplementary discipline. It’s reached a point of frustration, and it’s nearly impossible to predict how hard the hammer will drop on Cooke for his hit.

As the NHL’s general managers convene for more meetings this week, this issue figures to be on the frontburner. It’s unfortunate, but it’s also something they should have already dealt with.

For those who missed it, here’s the video of Cooke’s hit.

No question it’s a shot to the head, but how is it terribly different from this hit?

Of course, Richards wasn’t suspended. In both cases, the player who was hit had his head down, and neither Cooke nor Richards appeared to throw an intentional elbow.

Is it right to suspend Cooke because of his past?

Well, in the NHL’s eyes, it is. They have a history of paying way too much attention to a player’s past record when deciding on suspensions.

Here is another video. This one is of a hit by Sergei Gonchar of Pittsburgh on Minnesota’s Cal Clutterbuck.

Not only was Gonchar not suspended, but NHL discipline czar Colin Campbell told NHL Live that Gonchar’s clean record was a factor in his decision not to suspend.

In other words, players like Gonchar and Richards can do whatever they want, because the line they have to cross to get suspended is different than it is for Cooke and, well, Derek Boogaard.

Want evidence that Boogaard gets treated differently? Look at his hit on Edmonton’s Ryan Jones Friday night.

Now, contrast it to the controversial knee-on-knee collision between Alex Ovechkin and Gonchar from last year’s playoffs.

Boogaard was suspended for two games, while Ovechkin skated in the next game of that playoff series.

The league’s issues with consistency extend to players with no past record of dirty play. Maxim Lapierre got four games for an obviously dirty hit on San Jose’s Scott Nichol Thursday night, but a similar hit by Edmonton’s Theo Peckham the next night went ignored.

If the NHL wants to send a message regarding illegal hits in the sport, they need to figure out what that message is, and they need to show a willingness to apply it across the board … not just when it’s convenient for them to do so.

No inconsistently applied standard is ever going to stick.

During last month’s Olympic hockey tournament in Vancouver, Alexander Medvedev, the president of the KHL, made it known that his league plans on aggressively pursuing New Jersey Devils forward Ilya Kovalchuk when he becomes a free agent following this season. Medvedev was quoted as saying to ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun, “Yes, yes, because it will be absolutely legal … It’s understood with the leagues that if it’s a free agent, or even a restricted free agent, they could decide where to play. So Kovalchuk has the full right to decide where to play. We are going to negotiate with him and his agents what kind of agreement could be reached.”

It will certainly be an interesting storyline to watch develop should Kovalchuk and the Devils fail to agree on a new contract before July 1.

The NHL rarely — if ever — sees a player of this magnitude, at this age, hit the open market. Kovalchuk, who doesn’t turn 27 until April, is one of the most dynamic, game-changing offensive forces in the league, and not only will there be 30 NHL teams lining up to bid for his services, there will apparently be two leagues entering what will surely be a free agency free-for-all.

Medvedev’s infatuation with two-time 50-goal scorer is obvious. His league desperately needs to add a marquee player, and Kovalchuk, one of the best players from Russia – or any country – will be available to the highest bidder. With Jaromir Jagr, currently the biggest name playing in Russia, looking as if he may make a return to North America after the season, the need for a big-splash acquisition is multiplied for the league. Even if Jagr remains in Russia, another high-profile profile player wouldn’t hurt. The KHL still needs more impact players, and it won’t be able to hitch its wagon to Jagr, currently 38, forever.

But what if it misses out on Kovalchuk? Does it have a Plan B? And if not, who, or what, should it turn to?

So far, the best players to jump ship from the NHL to Russia have been, for the most part, players at the tail end of their careers (Jagr, Sergei Fedorov, Sergei Zubov, etc.) and a number of second-, third- and fourth-tier players. Alexander Radulov would be the exception to those two groups, having gone over at the age of 21 on the brink of a potential star career in Nashville, as well as Nikita Filatov, a former first-round pick that is on loan from the Columbus Blue Jackets. He’s currently averaging close to a point per game (22 points in 26 games) as the youngest player on CSKA Moscow and one of the youngest players in the league.

If the KHL wants to be a truly international league and seriously compete with the NHL, why is it putting all of its eggs in one basket this summer with Kovalchuk? Why not consider attempting to lure a big name North American free agent? It’s a long shot, absolutely. But if it wants to be a league that rivals the NHL – which is supposedly the KHL’s intention – it’s going to have to eventually bring in some non-Russian superstars. It’s a threat to sign some players, yes, but is it really a rival league? At this point, it probably isn’t on the same level as the old WHA, which housed such names as Bobby Hull, Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Rod Langway and Bernie Parent for brief periods of time.

That’s not to say it’s a bad league, because it’s not. It’s clearly the second-best professional hockey league in the world — trailing only the NHL — and is ahead of the Elite leagues in Sweden, Germany, Finland and Switzerland.

But can it ever get to a level close to the NHL? And more importantly, does it even want to?

Let’s say, hypothetically, that instead of going after Kovalchuk (or along with him), the KHL made a serious offer for the only other impact free agent forward that’s expected to hit the market: San Jose’s Patrick Marleau.

That would certainly get the NHL’s attention.

There are, of course, a couple of reasons as to why such a move probably wouldn’t happen.

1) Why would a top-shelf North American free agent want to leave the NHL to play in Russia? As we discussed with Nashville Predators assistant general manager Paul Fenton a couple of weeks ago, one of the biggest draws for European and Russian hockey players to the KHL is the simple fact that it’s their home, or a lot closer to their home, than the United States or Canada.

A North American player would have no such draw, which would leave money as the only deciding factor.

The KHL has been known to throw around the promise of tax-free, and sometimes even rent-free, contracts to entice players. The problem, however, is that the KHL hasn’t exactly been a booming financial success. The league also has a lower salary cap than the NHL, and while some larger contracts are paid up front, some teams have struggled to pay players on time and fulfill their contractual obligations.

There’s not a strong players association, and there have been concerns about the medical treatment players have received, not only following the death of Alexei Cheraponov, but for the manner in which Steve Kariya – brother of Paul Kariya – was carried off the ice on a tarp after hitting his head earlier this season.

2) Like most of the professional leagues in Europe, the KHL has a limit on the number of international import players that can play on a single team. The league limits teams to five imports, only one of which can be a goaltender — only four are permitted to dress on game day — so there are limited opportunities for such players.

Considering the shaky financial situation in which nobody is making money, as well as the restrictions on rosters, is it possible that the KHL, despite its claims of wanting to be a rival for the NHL, has no such intentions? Medvedev has been quoted many times about his desire to have a positive working relationship with the NHL and build a successful league.

So far, it’s been a failure in that respect.

Having said all of that, here’s a thought: what if the KHL’s main focus right now is simply to serve as a tool to help build up Russian hockey for the 2014 Sochi Olympics? The league is run, in part, by state-owned companies, and while the NHL still hasn’t committed to the Sochi games, most of the top Russian players have already said they are taking part whether they have the NHL’s blessing or not. The more big-name Russian players the KHL can sign before then, the less problem it has getting those same players for its national team in 2014 if the NHL decides to keep its season running through February.

Russia is coming off a disappointing showing in the Vancouver Olympics in all sports, with its hockey team leading the way. Its sixth-place finish was its worst since 1956, and was capped off with an embarrassing 7-3 defeat at the hands of long-time rival Canada. The pressure on that team in 2014 is going to be immense.

It’s just a thought, but is it that far-fetched? Russia’s performance in the Olympics has steadily declined over the past four tournaments, going from Silver in ‘98, to Bronze in ‘02, to fourth in ‘06, to sixth in ‘10. The last Gold Medal was 1992 when the Unified Team won it at the Albertville games. Isn’t it possible that Russia could use the KHL, in some way, to help spearhead its efforts to win gold on its home soil in four years?

Regardless of its current intentions, it’s clear that it still has quite a ways to go if it ever wants to be a true “rival” for the NHL.

Despite leading 3-1 with just under two minutes to play in regulation, the Anaheim Ducks still came out on the losing end of a 4-3 shootout decision against the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday evening. Brian Gionta and Andrei Markov scored just 1:39 apart to help erase what had been, at one point, a 3-0 Anaheim lead.

The game ultimately went to a shootout, and with the Ducks leading 1-0 in the third round, Gionta was Montreal’s last chance to keep the game going.

At first, it appeared as if Anaheim goaltender Jonas Hiller made the save, but he kept sliding back toward the net, and had the puck fall out from between his pads and end up across the line. After a review in Toronto, Montreal was awarded a goal, and Tomas Plekanec ended up scoring the game-winner in the following round.

Here’s the video of Gionta’s goal.

If Hiller had managed to hold onto the puck, the game would have ended and Anaheim would have picked up an important second point. As it stands, it walks away with just one for losing in the shootout and is still six points back of the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference.

Boston Bruins center Marc Savard lay nearly motionless for several minutes and was removed from Mellon Arena on a stretcher after a collision with Pittsburgh Penguins winger Matt Cooke on Sunday.

Savard sent a shot on the Pittsburgh net from a few feet inside the blue line with about six minutes remaining. A couple beats after he released it, Cooke came through with what looked on replays was either an elbow or shoulder that crumpled Savard.

The Boston Globe reported that Savard was diagnosed with a concussion, but wasn’t transported to the hospital. Instead, Savard was taken to the team hotel where he will remain tonight under the care of Boston’s medical staff.

No penalty was called on the hit and Pens went on to win the game, 2-1.

“After looking at the replay, it certainly doesn’t look like a very good hit,” said Boston coach Claude Julien in an interview on NESN after the game. “Hopefully the league will take care of it and make the right decision.”

Julien told reporters after the game he expected Savard to be out “for a while.”

The NHL has taken a tougher stance toward hits to the head and his imposed several fines and suspensions, even if if a penalty wasn’t called on the ice.

“That was a targeted head hit,” said Bruins television analyst Andy Brickley. “How could there be not even be penalty on the play?”

Jack Edwards, the Bruins’ play-by-play announcer, said Cooke “was trying to separate (Savard) from consciousness.”

CHICAGO — There is so much talk in this hockey town about a championship, it was understandable when a tourist in the United Center press box on Sunday afternoon thought the 22,000 faithful were chanting “We want the Cup.”

Turns out the roar of the crowd was “Detroit sucks.”

To the dismay of the locals here, Detroit is healthy once again and their occasional bouts with sucktosis appear to be over. The Blackhawks lost to the archrival and role model Red Wings, 5-4, on Hockey Brunch in America when Detroit reeled off five consecutive goals within 15 minutes in the second period. As a result, the growing whispers of a possible Stanley Cup in Chicago for the first time since 1961 — “I think they can … I think they can”! — have been quieted. But only until the next win.

“We know what we’re capable of,” captain Jonathan Toews said after the slightly humbling loss. “You have to be focused on winning it all. Today was just a learning experience.”

At the re-christened Madhouse on Madison, where the season ticket-holder base has grown from 3,000 to 14,000 in the time in takes to say Toews to Kane, Cup craziness hits you the moment you walk in the door. Signs are everywhere with the simple declaration of “One Goal.” (No, it’s not winning the division). The pre-game scoreboard video tracing history from Hull to Hjalmarsson ended like this:

“Game of the Week.

“Rivalry for the Ages.

“Is This the Year”?

Again, it’s fair to assume they’re not referring to this being the year they win the West.

Veteran Chicago center John Madden, who owns two Stanley Cup rings from his years in title-focused New Jersey, said he welcomes the Cup chatter as long as his team maintains perspective.

“We’ve accomplished nothing,” said Madden. “The Cup stuff is fine because we have a very good team and we have a legitimate shot. But let’s take it in steps. Today was an education. The only difference is we didn’t have to pay tuition. With our record being what it is, this loss didn’t cost us much. Down the road, we’ll probably view it as a crucial lesson.”

By the way the Blackhawks performed over the first 64 games of the season (46-16-5), Chicagoans have every reason to believe in their team. By the way Joel Quenneville’s kids turned a 2-0 lead into a loss on Sunday to the deeply experienced Red Wings, the town has every reason to break out the baseball skepticism. Even with the presence of big-ticket veterans Marian Hossa and Brian Campbell, these Blackhawks are cubs.

Look at the prime-timers Chicago is counting on the most in the playoffs. Patrick Kane, the team’s leading scorer, is 21 years old. Gold-decorated captain Toews is just seven months older. Norris Trophy candidate Duncan Keith is 26 and his Chicago and Team Canada defense partner Brent Seabrook is 25.

Valuable next-level Blackhawks like Troy Brouwer, Kris Versteeg, Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd and Dave Bolland will be 25 or younger when the playoffs begin.

“They are who we thought they were. Where have I heard that before?”
– Jonathan Toews Despite gaining vital conference final experience against Detroit last spring, there isn’t a contender in the league that receives more daily teaching than the Blackhawks get from Quenneville. After taking a 2-0 lead over Detroit on first period goals by Keith and Ladd, the home team lost its way.

“It’s disappointing because this has happened too much lately,” said Ladd, who had a hat trick in the loss.

An imaginary goaltender interference whistle by referee Mike Leggo early in the second cost the Blackhawks a three-goal lead and may have unnerved them. Quenneville called a timeout when goals by Detroit defensemen Brian Rafalski and Nicklas Lidstrom tied the game soon after. Proving there’s only so much even a top coach can tell his troops in 60 seconds, Chicago allowed three more goals in the period: Jason Williams (9:45), Valteri Filppula (10:27) and a back-breaker by Pavel Datsyuk with three seconds left in the second.

Two more goals by Ladd and a mad scramble late in the third — “Good for the ratings,” joked exhaling Red Wings coach Mike Babcock — were not enough.

“They are who we thought they were,” said Toews. “Where have I heard that before”?

Quenneville pulled starter Cristobal Huet after the Filppula goal made it 4-2. Although the blown lead was hardly Huet’s fault, the hook will do nothing to calm Chicago’s queasiness about their team’s goaltending. But the thrilling, oh-so-close comeback in the third proved how good the Blackhawks can be when they’re pushing the play.

“It’s not how young you are,” said Rafalski, with multiple rings from New Jersey and Detroit. “It’s how good you’re playing. Winning a championship should be every team’s goal coming into the season.”

While the city has caught Cup fever, the Blackhawks spent some of the last 48 hours talking about how the road to the Final goes through Detroit. At the end of his post-game media scrum on Sunday, Babcock was asked for his reaction to all the flattery.

“I don’t have one,” the Red Wings coach with a grin. “I just told you guys a bunch of stuff I don’t really believe either.”

Make no mistake: the Blackhawks believe.

CHICAGO — Duncan Keith winced and appeared flattered at the same time when it was mentioned that he is a leading candidate for the Norris Trophy.

“That’s, um, nice to be mentioned, especially when you think about all the great defensemen in the league and all the legends who’ve won the award,” said the reserved, thoughtful Keith. “But I’m not real comfortable talking about that kind of stuff.”

Why?

“Because I haven’t done anything yet.”

The pride of Winnipeg means, naturally, that he has not led his Chicago Blackhawks to a championship. Give Keith points for being humble and team-spirited — as if he hasn’t racked up enough points this season.

The six-foot(ish), 190-pound(ish) Keith is second in league scoring by defensemen with 57 points, behind Washington’s Mike Green. In Friday’s 6-3 Blackhawks win over Vancouver, Keith scored his 12th goal of the season — tying his career-best and tying four others in the No. 2 spot among blueline goal-scorers this season. He is tied for fifth in the league (with his D partner, Brent Seabrook) in plus/minus among league defensemen.

“There’s no debate: the rule changes after the lockout that opened up the game were a benefit to a player with Duncan’s wheels and ability. But even with all that said, he gets the credit for turning himself into a spectacular player.”
– Western Conference Scout If the numbers don’t tell enough of the story, consider that Keith was a slam-dunk choice for Team Canada at the Olympics, while the forever-underrated Green did not make the team.

Not bad for a second-round pick who spent two fairly underwhelming, 25-point seasons in the minors before getting his chance with the Blackhawks after the lockout.

“Keith was a solid, second-pair prospect, not a spectacular one,” said a Western Conference scout who regularly viewed the defenseman during his AHL days in Norfolk. “There’s no debate: the rule changes after the lockout that opened up the game were a benefit to a player with Duncan’s wheels and ability. But even with all that said, he gets the credit for turning himself into a spectacular player.”

As you’d expect, Keith shares the credit.

“Too many coaches to mention, going all the way back to my youth hockey days,” said Keith, whose Blackhawks host Detroit in the NBC game on Sunday. “But when I was in Norfolk, (former Blackhawks defenseman and coach) Trent Yawney really put in the time with me to give me confidence and make me a better defenseman. I’m not here without his help. And Joel Quenneville has been so good for me. He’s helped me raise my game and he’s the one who puts us out there in all the key situations.”

“Us” is Keith and Seabrook — the first defense pair on the Blackhawks, a go-to combination on gold-medal-winning Team Canada and, with little argument, the best ‘D’ tandem in the league. These days, Keith plays almost every second of his 26 minutes a game with his best friend.

“They’re like brothers,” said teammate Dustin Byfuglien. “And they fight like sisters.”

“Playing them together all the time,” said Quenneville, “is probably the easiest decision I have to make every day.”

Keith credits his chemistry with Seabrook for his breakthrough as an Olympian and Chicago star.

“We spend so much time together off and on the ice,” said Keith. “We know each other’s tendencies. The game is a little more simple when you’re playing every second with someone as good as Brent.”

Just like that, a piece of his Norris Trophy acceptance speech is already written.