Before Blackhawks forward Craig Smith returned for a game Feb. 5 against the Oilers after a nearly two-month absence because of a back injury, he texted linemates Lukas Reichel and Pat Maroon.
‘‘I texted both of them and said, ‘Bear with me for a game. Let me get a couple of looks, and we’ll get this thing going again,’ ’’ Smith said. ‘‘We built on a few things, got some really good looks and scored some goals, and that always feels good as a line.’’
Smith scored the Hawks’ lone goal in their 5-1 loss Saturday to the Blue Jackets. Interim coach Anders Sorensen said he liked that line on the forecheck and how it was able to create some time in the offensive zone.
The fourth line has been a bright spot for the Hawks when all three players have been available this season. Entering the game Sunday against the Maple Leafs, the line had outscored opponents 9-6. With Reichel’s speed, Smith’s ability to find open areas and Maroon’s ruggedness, the players complement each other well.
Maroon said the Hawks missed Smith’s competitiveness and how he fights for pucks while he was out.
‘‘You got me as the guy that plays below the top of the circle and grinds down low,’’ Maroon said. ‘‘When we get teams down there, those guys find open ice, and it just seems to work.
‘‘We also have a special bond away from the rink, too, so that probably helps out a lot with communication and playing with swagger. Building chemistry away from the rink leads to good things on the ice, too.’’
That off-the-ice relationship is valuable to Smith and Maroon. As veterans, they understand the importance of camaraderie on a team, especially a younger group that has experienced more than its share of losing in the last three seasons.
‘‘It’s a good sign when younger guys are joking around with older guys,’’ Maroon said. ‘‘That’s a good sign of a good locker room.’’
When Maroon established himself as an everyday NHL player with the Ducks in 2013-14, he had forwards such as Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Andrew Cogliano to shepherd him along. Those veterans taught him how to be resilient, to fight, to battle.
He’s now imparting those lessons to Reichel, who has had a rough go this season while being in and out of the lineup.
Reichel’s strengths are on the offensive side. His speed makes him tough to cover when he carries the puck through the neutral zone. No one questions Reichel’s talent, but he had to acquire that feistiness. That’s where Maroon and Smith come in.
‘‘Some nights, it’s not going to go for you,’’ Maroon said. ‘‘There’s stretches of games you’re going to have that [feeling]. You’re going to feel like, ‘Jesus, I can’t get anything going.’ But as long as you stay in the fight for an extended period of time, eventually it’s going to break through for you. That’s the thing we’ve been trying to help Reichs with.
‘‘[We tell him], ‘Listen, we want to get you to be an everyday player, but there’s going to be ebbs and flows and adversity’s going to kick in. It’s how you handle those situations and keep fighting through that.’ He’s a very talented player, but he’s not going to be a talented player every night.’’