Blackhawk forward Steve Thomas has at least one fan in the first balcony, and probably a lot more.
A small sign hanging next to the Stadium organ Sunday night read:
”There`s No Doubting Thomas.”
That`s true. The scrappy left winger broke a 1-1 tie 2 minutes 26 seconds into the third period, and the Hawks went on to win 3-1 for a crowd of 15,315. Bill Watson added an insurance goal from the slot at 13:18.
Thomas scored on a wraparound from behind the net after defenseman Bob McGill dumped the puck in from the right point.
Thomas has averaged more than a point a game-8 goals and 6 assists in 13 games-since returning to the lineup after having abdominal muscle and groin injuries.
Hawk goalie Darren Pang didn`t face as many pucks as he had Saturday night when Toronto took 50 shots, but Pang kept the lead intact in the third period.
Although the Canucks put a lot of pressure on Pang after Thomas` go-ahead goal, he was up to the challenge again.
The Hawks, 6-2-1 in their last nine games, played giveaway several times in their end, but Pang played takeaway from the Canucks. The Hawks have allowed only three goals in the last two games, mostly because of Pang.
The Hawks had beaten Vancouver 3-2 Nov. 22 at the Stadium. They came from behind after two periods, the only time they had done that this season.
Pang, who played in that game, went into Sunday`s contest ranked No. 1 in the National Hockey League in save percentage (.904). Washington`s Pete Peeters was second at .902 and Montreal`s Patrick Roy third at .900.
Pang has started 8 of the last 10 games at the Stadium. He is 5-3 in those games.
The score was tied 1-1 going into the third period after Hawk defenseman Behn Wilson scored the only goal of the second period. Wilson, who had an assist in Saturday`s 3-2 victory over Toronto, had four shots on goal in the first two periods Sunday.
The Hawks were outshooting Vancouver 24-15 after two periods, but veteran goaltender Richard Brodeur was sharp in the crease. He didn`t look like the goalie who gave up 16 goals in his first two starts this season.
Brodeur was screened on Wilson`s goal, his fourth of the season. After some nice stick handling by rookie forward Brian Noonan along the right boards, Noonan passed back to Wilson, who moved toward the slot and beat Brodeur at 16:59. Noonan and rookie Dan Vincelette got assists.
The Hawks were 0 for 2 on the power play after two periods; Vancouver was 0 for 3.
Vancouver led 1-0 at the end of the first period on John LeBlanc`s 10th goal of the season.
Defenseman Dave Manson left the puck for Troy Murray behind the Hawk net, but Murray lost control of it as he skated in front of Pang. LeBlanc jumped on the loose puck and fired it past Pang at 15:25.
LeBlanc is not the scorer on his line. He skates with right wing Tony Tanti and center Greg Adams, the team`s top two scorers. Tanti entered with 26 goals and 26 assists.
The game was a standoff for the first 7 minutes. The Canucks went on the power play after Steve Thomas was called for slashing right wing Stan Smyl at 7:12, but the Hawks` penalty killing was excellent. Vancouver had trouble setting up because of the Hawks` pressure.
Noonan, who doesn`t get many penalty minutes, much less get into fights, had a brief brawl with right wing Rich Sutter in front of the Hawk net at 13:23. Noonan took Sutter to the ice. Sutter initiated the fight, but an instigating penalty was not called against him.
For the second night in a row, right wing Dirk Graham was on a line with center Denis Savard and Steve Larmer at left wing.
”I like Dirk Graham with Savard,” said Hawks coach Bob Murdoch. ”I really like him with Savard, because he has so much hockey sense. And he`s quick, and he darts.”
Rookie left wing Everett Sanipass missed his third straight game with a broken nose and a broken bone in his upper jaw, and defenseman Marc Bergevin was out for the second game in a row with the flu.
The Hawks hit the road this week for games against Detroit Tuesday, New Jersey Friday and Pittsburgh Saturday. Their next game at the Stadium is Feb. 1 against the Boston Bruins, who are neck-and-neck with Montreal for first place in the Adams Division.
