Steve Larmer rarely misses practice. He did Tuesday with a sore back.
Larmer never misses games. And coach Mike Keenan doesn`t expect the Blackhawks right wing to be absent Thursday night when the Detroit Red Wings visit the Stadium.
Larmer`s streak of playing in 666 straight games, the longest current streak in the National Hockey League, is on the line.
”The only way he won`t play Thursday is if he can`t walk,” said Keenan. ”His back`s healthy. We had it checked out with X-rays and other tests. They revealed no problem. He just got it banged up on the road trip.”
Full strength: Left wing Michel Goulet practiced Tuesday, and his sore ankle, tender from blocking a puck, may allow him to return to the lineup against the Red Wings, Keenan said.
”It could be the first game all year we`ll have everyone healthy,”
Keenan noted.
Pep talk: Keenan has been criticized as a tough customer when the time comes to give players a pat on the back. But he strongly stood behind left wing Jocelyn Lemieux when asked if Lemieux had fallen into a slump recently.
”Early in the year, he led the charge for us for the most part of 15 games,” Keenan said. ”He`s not called `Cannonball` for nothing. I don`t think this is a down time for him. He`s doing a good job.”
Still needy: Coaches always must see room for improvement. Keenan therefore not unexpectedly said Tuesday: ”We still have to get better.”
In what areas? ”Team speed, the transition game, power play and penalty killing.”
That`s enough for now.
