Some think center Jeremy Roenick and right wing Joe Murphy are meant to blend their speed together. But Blackhawks coach Darryl Sutter separated them again in Sunday’s 9-6 loss to Philadelphia and may keep them apart for the forseeable future.
“I don’t see Jeremy and Murph giving each other the puck at all,” Sutter said of two players who admit they play best when they control the puck. “Murphy has played all right the last four games, but it also depends who’s on the other wing with him.”
Michel Goulet plans to practice Tuesday and should return to left wing on Roenick’s line Thursday against the New York Islanders after missing four games with back problems. Murphy is expected to play again with Kevin Todd as his center.
– General Manager Bob Pulford took a swipe at an old enemy, New York Rangers coach Mike Keenan, for stirring speculation to the point that Chris Chelios heard he was being traded to the Rangers. Pulford said Rangers GM Neil Smith denied making such an inference.
“I don’t know where it came from, but you can put two and two together and figure it out,” Pulford said. “That’s dirty pool.”
– Say what you want about Ed Belfour, the guy works hard. Even though Monday was a day off for the Hawks, Belfour showed up and worked with goaltending coach Vladislav Tretiak to correct his slumping game.
– Even if the Hawks beat the U.S. Olympic team Tuesday night at the Stadium, it won’t be a total loss. The Hawks and the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois have raised $25,000 in a cooperative ticket-selling venture.
