Sign of the times in Chicago: With 2 minutes 45 seconds left and the Black Hawks clinging to a one-goal lead against Hartford Sunday night, a football was thrown on the Stadium ice and the game had to be delayed.
”I felt like picking it up and running,” said Hawks` goalie Bob Sauve.
”I guess the fever gets to everybody.”
On the same day the Bears started counting the days to their first Super Bowl, the Hawks` Denis Savard turned in a record-tying performance that continued another countdown that`s just starting to reach a fever pitch.
Taking the puck on the faceoff and skating faster than anyone could carry a football, Savard scored the game-winning goal just four seconds into the third period of a 4-2 victory over the Whalers.
”He just saw an opening, and he can really jump on something like that,” said Hawks` assistant coach Roger Neilson of a play on which Savard simply took the puck from the opposing center on the opening faceoff and quickly moved in for a 35-footer. ”It was made to order for him.”
Savard`s goal tied the National Hockey League mark for the fastest score to start a period set by Montreal`s Claude Provost in 1957.
The feisty Hawk had already assisted on a vital goal by Steve Larmer in the second period to put his team ahead 2-1. The two-point night extended his scoring streak to 17 games. He is now just one shy of his personal record and four from Bobby Hull`s club mark of 21 set in the 1971-72 season.
”I don`t even want to think about the streak,” said Savard. ”I just know if I keep producing, it helps us to keep winning.”
The center`s 28 goals and 35 assists lead the Black Hawks in both departments.
This was the Hawks` 11th victory in 13 games. Combined with St. Louis`
tie in New York against the Rangers, it extended their Norris Division lead to two points over the St. Louis Blues. The Hawks` second victory of the season over a strong Hartford team also was their seventh in eight Stadium games.
”We had enough chances to come out of here with a victory,” said Hartford coach Jack Evans, whose club outshot the Black Hawks 35-29 and had twice as many power plays (6-3). ”Our goalie (Steve Weeks) played well, but their guy was the difference.”
Sauve, who entered with a 12-4-1 lifetime record against Hartford, now has both Chicago victories against the Whalers this season. He also slipped smoothly back into the groove after losing his previous decision in last Wednesday`s embarrassing 8-7 loss to New Jersey in the Stadium.
”Your last game is always in the back of your mind, but you don`t want to think about it too much,” said Sauve. ”Hartford has got a pretty good club right now.
”They`re as good as Boston and some of the others. They`re always tight checkers in that division (Adams). Then, they like to force it on you.”
Sauve, who is 6-1 in his last seven decisions, found himself the last line of defense on several breakaways. In one memorable third-period sequence, he stopped a one-on-one by Sylvain Turgeon as well as a rapid-fire repeat shot by the Whaler winger.
Ray Ferraro got both goals for Hartford on power plays, but the Whalers could get no closer than a 1-1 tie in the first period after Steve Ludzik deflected in teammate Marc Bergevin`s long poke from the point to open the scoring.
Larmer`s goal off feeds by Savard and Doug Wilson made it 2-1 for the Hawks early in the second for the period`s only scoring. Savard then made it 3-1 to start the final stanza.
”I could see he (center Dean Evason) was a rightie, and he was going to try and pull the puck back to his defenseman,” said Savard. ”I just pushed it through (in the same direction) and got it back.
”I`ve never tried it before. The whole thing happened so quickly I wasn`t even sure the shot went in.”
It did, and when the Hawks` Bill Watson added en empty-netter after Hartford pulled its goalie, it was all over but the shouting in Chicago`s long day in sports history.
