Jeremy Roenick equaled a club record with his three power-play goals in Saturday night`s 5-2 victory over the New York Islanders. The Blackhawks center scored four goals in the special-teams extravaganza, the other one shorthanded.
But only one other time in team history has a player compiled three goals while having the advantage in skaters. Former Hawk Wayne Presley did it Nov. 7, 1987, against Detroit.
On hold: NHL managements are barred from talking about the ticklish expansion situation with Tampa Bay and Ottawa. But the word out of the general managers` meetings that concluded Friday in Florida is that doubt remains about whether either club will be ready to open as scheduled next season.
That`s why the league tabled a decision on realignment until early January. It didn`t want to put the Lightning and Senators in divisions, and perhaps move a couple teams around, until it was certain the newcomers had sufficient funds. The NHL knows a thing or two about public-relations disasters and decided to avoid one here if at all possible.
Pay up: It`s far too early for the Hawks to sell playoff tickets. But Wirtz is already forming his plans to show some home games on pay-per-view during the postseason. The future of pay-per-view broadcasting in the NHL was one of the hot topics at the Florida meetings. After seeing how he does with selling the format in the playoffs, Wirtz intends to offer some of next season`s home games on pay-per-view as well. Expect a firm announcement later this season.
Streaking: Coach Mike Keenan claimed when Ed Belfour showed up late that he wouldn`t rely on him nearly as much as last season. That hasn`t proven to be the case. Belfour`s start Sunday was his 14th in a row, one short of tying his second-longest streak last season (15 straight from Nov. 20 to Dec. 22). His longest run was 21, from Dec. 29 to Feb. 21.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Waite waits. He can be sure of only one thing: He will start against Team USA when that Olympic team plays the Hawks Thursday at the Stadium.
