Stu Grimson has waited much of his life for two events. And within the space of two days both have happened.
His wife, Pam, gave birth Wednesday to their first child, Erin Elizabeth. And Thursday night, the 26-year-old Blackhawks enforcer punched in his first National Hockey League goal.
But so much for the good news. The Hawks delivered another catastrophe Thursday night, losing 5-2 to Calgary. That stretched their winless streak to four (0-2-2), both defeats coming at the Stadium.
Maybe just the right atmosphere to nudge the Hawks into making a deal with the New York Islanders. They have been close to a trade for center Brent Sutter the past two days, a deal in which center Adam Creighton would go to New York.
But the holdup may be the secondary player or players. The Isles are also said to desire Hawks wing Steve Thomas, and he and Creighton for Sutter are too much to give unless a lot more is coming to Chicago.
Calgary reportedly has also bid on Sutter, offering center Joel Otto and winger Paul Ranheim. Trades can sometimes refocus teams, and the Hawks may need that.
You can`t say Thursday`s setback was unexpected, since the Flames are now 14-1-2 against the Hawks in their last 17 games, and 7-0-1 in their last eight encounters at the Stadium.
The Flames did a lot with a little early on, scoring five times in the first 34 minutes from only 10 shots.
Three of these five goals were on the power play, two by Theoren Fleury and the other a Gary Roberts deflection.
Contrast that to the Hawks` prolonged slide into mediocrity when they were on the power play. They were 1 for 11 in the game, including 0 for 5 in the first period and 0 for 8 after two periods.
Steve Larmer finally scored a power-play goal early in the third period on the first of a double-minor high-sticking on Al MacInnis. But that still left the Hawks trailing 5-2 and they couldn`t convert on the back end of the four-minute penalty.
Goalie Jimmy Waite was again subjected to chants of ”Eddie, Eddie” from the fans. In his seventh straight start, he was shaky at times for the second game in a row.
With defenseman Chris Chelios in possession of the puck and skating back toward his own net, Ranheim managed to get his stick on the puck and send a shot at Waite he didn`t expect. It jumped by him for a goal that widened the gap to 3-1 at 6:36 of the second period. Bad play for Chelios and Waite.
Hawks defenseman Steve Smith smashed Ronnie Stern with an open-ice check that created a furor. The Flames took two retaliatory penalties against Smith after that-roughing and elbowing-but the two Hawk power plays were also duds and just contributed to their agony.
Grimson`s goal came just over four minutes into the game. Mike Stapleton crashed the net from the right side and Grimson followed him as they pursued defenseman Steve Konroyd`s shot on goal. Even with Jamie Macoun on him, Grimson was able to power the puck past goalie Mike Vernon.
The goal came in Grimson`s 50th NHL game and against the team that let the Hawks claim him on waivers in January 1990.
The Hawks then had an opportunity to open a comfortable lead. Calgary showed why it leads the NHL in penalties, racking up three straight to put themselves in a vulnerable position-Roberts hooking at 4:32, Fleury elbowing at 7:57 and too many men on the ice called at 10:28.
But the Hawks generated very few chances to score. They outshot the Flames just 7-4 in this period.
Fleury`s second goal was a pretty shot from right of the net that traveled over Waite`s right shoulder and into the upper left-hand corner of the net. MacInnis and Gary Suter, who also assisted on the first goal, picked up the contributing points on this one.
Forward Jocelyn Lemieux was scratched from the Hawks lineup for the first time this season. Center Mike Hudson returned after missing three games with an injury and Stapleton, recalled from the minors to replace Hudson, had impressed well enough to retain a spot in the lineup.
While Hudson centered for Brian Noonan and Greg Gilbert, Stapleton took over Lemieux`s fourth-line job and worked with wingers Grimson and John Tonelli.
