CHICAGO - Forget Patrick Kanes flashy moves and Jonathan Toews steady play. David Segui Mariners Jersey . Same for the rest of the talented forwards on the Chicago Blackhawks. Instead, check out the players who line up right behind the teams biggest stars. Chicagos athletic defencemen play a prominent role in the NHLs most potent offence. Duncan Keith leads all NHL defencemen with 30 assists. Niklas Hjalmarsson is on pace for career highs in goals and assists. Brent Seabrook has three goals and 23 assists after he had 20 points in 47 games last season. Nick Leddy and Johnny Oduya also have provided valuable support on offence. Its hard enough for teams to deal with the likes of Kane and Toews. Now, when Keith & Co. are coming up and taking aim, the Blackhawks turn into a goaltenders nightmare. "I love our defence. Theyve been huge for us the past two seasons," forward Patrick Sharp said. "They all skate well. They all move the puck and with the forwards that we have in our locker room, we like to get it with speed and they do a good job of getting it to us. Our defence (has) been the key to our team this year." The importance of Chicagos offensive defencemen was on full display Monday night, when the Blackhawks beat the New Jersey Devils 5-2 for their sixth win in the last eight games. Leddy helped set up Kanes tiebreaking goal in the second period, and then capped the scoring with his fifth of the season in the third. Seabrook added two assists. It was the Blackhawks 15th game with at least five goals, running their league-best total to 145. They also lead the NHL with an average of 2.87 points a game by their defencemen, according to STATS, a significant increase from their 2.08 average for last seasons Stanley Cup-winning team. St. Louis, which hosts Chicago on Saturday night, is next on the list with 2.64 points a game for its defencemen and 128 goals overall. "I think as a defence corps you know that its important that we help control the offensive goal, not just necessarily scoring points but just being in on the attack and being an extra option that might create some space for our forwards," said Keith, who also had an assist against the Devils. Keith is one of the top contenders for the Norris Trophy after he took home the award for the NHLs top defenceman in 2010. The 30-year-old Keith, who was selected by the Blackhawks in the second round of the 2002 draft, has led the team in ice time every season since he made his debut in 2005. He plays alongside Seabrook in Chicagos top defensive pairing. "The two of them have been together basically since they broke into the league," said coach Joel Quenneville, a former NHL defenceman. "Thats been a big part of our team. When you think about all the shifts theyve played together, theres a lot of familiarity with one another and I think they complement each other for the right reasons." That familiarity is a common theme when it comes to the Blackhawks defencemen. Seabrook, a first-round draft pick by Chicago in 2003, had two of the Blackhawks biggest goals in their run to the title last season. He scored in overtime in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals against Detroit after Chicago battled back from a 3-1 series deficit, and then had another overtime winner in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup finals at Boston. Hjalmarsson also was drafted by the Blackhawks and is in his seventh season with the team. The 22-year-old Leddy, a 2009 first-round selection by Minnesota, was acquired in a trade in 2010 and has played for Chicago for four seasons. Oduya came over in a February 2012 trade with Winnipeg. "Youre with a group or a linemate or a defence partner for a certain amount of time, you develop that chemistry on the ice and even off the ice," Keith said. "You become more familiar with one another and closer. I just think it helps the overall game on the ice knowing what guys tend to do out on the ice and what they want to do." The Blackhawks (26-7-6) also have done a strong job of finding the right players for their system, which emphasizes puck possession. The eight defencemen on Chicagos roster range in height from 6-foot (Leddy and Oduya) to 6-3 (Seabrook and Hjalmarsson) and weight from 190 pounds for Oduya to 221 for Seabrook. The top defencemen are all strong skaters who are comfortable with the puck on their stick and can cover a lot of ground in a hurry. "The style of play fits the player and the player fits style of play," Oduya said. "I think thats important." Floyd Bannister Mariners Jersey . on the 15-day disabled Monday list because of a strained right hamstring. Gorman Thomas Mariners Jersey . "Im proud, obviously. Its been a long day, but now Im a Crystal Palace player, Im very happy," Bannan said. "The seasons been started now for a couple of weeks and Ive not featured at Villa. https://www.cheapmariners.com/1465k-donnie-walton-jersey-mariners.html .C. United have acquired midfielder Alex Caskey from the Seattle Sounders for a third-round pick in the 2016 MLS draft.Former England goalkeeper David Seaman says games against Scotland are stressful for players and fans alike ahead of Fridays World Cup Qualifier. Seaman made some vital saves, including a Gary McAllister penalty, when the two sides met during Euro 96 as England won 2-0 at Wembley.Theyre stressful games because you know whats at stake, for the fans as well, Seaman told Sky Sports News HQ. Former England goalkeeper David Seaman thinks competition from Tom Heaton and Jordan Pickford has brought out the best in Joe Hart Its like when I used to play in the north London derby, there was massive pressure but you want to do it for the fans and its the same with Scotland.You want to do it for yourself as well, because if you dont, you get quite a lot of stick off the Scottish people. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. The first one [England v Scotland game] I played in was Euro 96, which was like another pressure as well.We had started the tournament with a 1-1 draw against Switzerland and went into the Scotland game needing a win.Seaman also played a crucial role when the sides met again three years later in the two-legged play-off for Euro 2000. Internationaal Football: FIFA World Cup 2018 Qualifiers November 11, 2016, 10:00pm Live on Get Sky Sports Get a Sky Sports pass England won the opening encounter 2-0 at Hampden Park and with Scotland leading 1-0 in the return fixture at Wembley and pushing for a goal to level the tie, Seaman made a stunning save to keep out Christian Daillys header and help his side qualify for the finals in Belgium and the Netherlands. Jim Presley Mariners Jersey. We were under pressure and we werent playing well. I just saw him coming in and he got a powerful header on it, added Seaman.Luckily it was just above me so I could get my hand up quickly and divert it over the bar with both hands. Former Scotland manager Craig Brown insists Scotland must stand up and be counted if theyre to get a result at Wembley against England. It was a big save and for us to qualify as well, but we didnt kick on from that [in the] the tournament but its [the save is] up there with the best.Watch highlights of England v Scotland on Friday. Coverage begins on Sky Sports 1 HD at 10pm. Also See: Keane: Calmness will beat Scots Southgate needs no audition History of Eng-Scot football rivalry England fixtures ' ' '