Now that the NHL strike has ended, the real work has just begun for playoff-bound teams like the Blackhawks.
With only two or three regular-season games remaining for most teams-two for the Hawks-no one figures to be able to build much momentum heading into postseason play. The 10-day layoff might even give the lesser clubs a slight advantage over the favorites, especially in the first few games of the opening round. Home-ice advantage can turn around in a flash, as the Hawks discovered against Minnesota last year.
For many players, just getting the body and mind back on track for the first round will be as important as winning in these last few games. The Hawks already have clinched second place in the Norris Division, and forward Brent Sutter maintains it won`t take him or his teammates long to regain their legs for the playoffs.
”Obviously, a lot of teams are in the same boat now,” said Sutter. ”I don`t think it`s going to take very long to recover. Ten days is a while, but it`s not like it`s three weeks or a month.”
Hawks coach Mike Keenan has stressed conditioning since he first came to Chicago, and the two-a-day practices he called for in the middle of the season may now pay off even more than he expected.
”Our team is in pretty good shape,” Sutter said. ”We were in very good condition when (the strike) happened. I don`t think it will take that long. The biggest concern isn`t physical but mental, getting back into it.”
News of the settlement came late Friday, so some Hawks weren`t aware of it and had to ask reporters for details.
”I went to bed thinking it was done,” said Keith Brown, who was relieved just to be able to go back to what he does best-play hockey.
”It`s something we`ve always done. And we`ve been working all year to be in the playoffs and win the Stanley Cup. You only get so many shots at the Cup. I`ve always felt we had a pretty good chance.”
Though the players were told before the season to prepare for a worst-case scenario in case a strike became a reality, most were optimistic the season would not end on such a brutally sour note.
”I didn`t really know what would happen,” said Jocelyn Lemieux,
”because we heard different things pretty much every day. Plus, with all the different deadlines being set and then the deadlines changing, you never knew what was going to happen next.”
”I`ve always tried to keep a positive attitude,” said Sutter. ”I always felt something would be done despite all the negative talk. It`s been a roller coaster for everbody.
”Thursday was a real downer day for me. Things didn`t look good at all in the morning. But I really felt it could be worked out if both sides got back together and hammered it out.”
Now the players anxiously await the reaction of the fans.
The Hawks will find out soon enough. When they skate onto the Stadium ice Sunday night against Detroit, they`ll either get a rousing cheer for returning or a chorus of boos for what they and the owners have put the fans through.
”They`re the ones who always get hurt,” said Brown. ”It`s been 10 days that we haven`t played. Hopefully, they`ll react good.”
