After a 3-2 loss Monday night to Montreal, Black Hawk defenseman Doug Wilson said the team is ”very close to playing the type of hockey we want to play.” Maybe it was an omen.
The Hawks moved closer to their goal Wednesday with a key Norris Division victory over Toronto. They can take another step Saturday night when they visit the St. Louis Blues.
”I don`t care who we play,” Wilson said. ”If we do our thing out there, we`ll be fine.”
Bob Sauve did his thing against Toronto, stopping 45 shots in a 5-0 victory. It had the fans at the Stadium chanting, ”Sauve, Sauve.” To give them a chance to shout that in the playoffs, the veteran goaltender believes, the Hawks will have to do their own dirty work to move up in the division.
”We can`t wait for another team to do it for us,” Sauve said. ”I really don`t think anyone is going to fold.” Sauve will be in goal Saturday night, but Murray Bannerman could get the start Sunday against Edmonton at the Stadium. Bannerman`s headache isn`t as bad as it was after he got hit in the face Monday with a shot by Montreal`s Larry Robinson.
”If you can do it in practice . . . it`s tougher in practice,” said Bannerman, who has a colorful bruise on his right eyebrow. ”You don`t think about it in a game. A couple of years ago, Glenn Anderson hit me in the head in the playoffs. That one hurt me. I spent a couple of days in a fog.”
Bannerman had played well in a 3-2 loss to Minnesota Jan. 17 and in two games against Philadelphia before getting hit. ”It`s just one of those things,” said Bannerman, who sat out 13 straight games from mid-December to mid-January. ”It`s unfortunate. I was feeling better, more comfortable. There will be other games.”
Saturday night`s game certainly is important. The Hawks are three points behind third-place St. Louis. They`re 1-2-2 against the Blues, 0-2-1 in St. Louis.
— Hawk coach-general manager Bob Pulford, who sent wingers Rich Preston and Dave Donnelly to Nova Scotia for a game Friday, told them to meet him in St. Louis. They`ll rejoin the Hawks there and play with center Mike Stapleton on the fourth line.
— Everett Sanipass, who scored his first NHL goal Wednesday, will remain at left wing on the line with Denis Savard and Steve Larmer. Al Secord is expected to be back after missing two games.
Keith Brown (bruised back) won`t play Saturday, but Bob Murray, who also suffered a bruised back Wednesday, may skate against the Blues. ”Bobby thinks he can go,” Pulford said Friday. ”I don`t know whether he will. Saginaw and Nova Scotia both play tonight (Friday). You hate to bring somebody in, but in case Murray can`t go, you don`t want to be short.”
