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Blackhawks' Rundblad to replace Timonen; van Riemsdyk won't play Game 6

Charles LeClaire / USA TODAY Sports

Trevor van Riemsdyk: rookie, decoy.

Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville hinted at personnel changes for Game 6 and they've come as David Rundblad who will step into the lineup.

Rundblad took third-pairing reps with Kyle Cumiskey in the morning skate and paired with Johnny Oduya in pregame warmups, while Kimmo Timonen, who some believed would be unseated by van Riemsdyk, was absent from the lineup prior to Wednesday's contest.

Unable to match the pace set in the Western Conference bracket, Timonen, 40, has seen his usage plummet in the postseason. He hasn't been trusted with more than 10 minutes in games decided in regulation in the Conference Final versus the Anaheim Ducks.

While Cumiskey has been able to adapt in an emergency role since the injury to Michal Rozsival, Rundblad struggled in his lone appearance. The Ducks feasted in Game 1, scoring twice on his first eight shifts.

As such, Chicago will lean almost entirely on that top four as they attempt to force a Game 7.

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