In a pressure-filled season, no one on the Blackhawks has been under a microscope more than Alex Zhamnov.
But Friday night, in the biggest game of the season for the Hawks, Zhamnov put on a show reminiscent of the man whose spot he took on the roster last August.
His three goals in the Hawks’ 7-3 victory over Calgary might have caused a few fans to say “Jeremy who?” Whether he likes it or not–and he doesn’t like it–Zhamnov will forever be remembered as the player the Hawks got for Jeremy Roenick, and he’ll always field questions with Roenick’s name mentioned.
“This whole year I’ve had this pressure,” Zhamnov said after notching goals Nos. 18, 19 and 20 to give him 61 points on the season. “Still right now this question (about the expectations of being the guy who replaced Roenick).
“I have to keep playing the same way in the playoffs.”
“Alex, he’s a big leader,” said Chris Chelios. “He needs to score goals for us to win.”
Sutter returns . . . for a game: Brent Sutter wasn’t 100 percent healthy before Friday’s game–or after it. He was back in the lineup after missing six straight games with a sprained left knee, but he aggravated the injury while helping kill a five-on-three Calgary power play in the second period. He didn’t play in the third period, but coach Craig Hartsburg hopes to have him ready for the first round of the playoffs Wednesday.
“He tweaked it a couple of times, so we kept him out in the third period,” said Hartsburg, who was just excited to have Sutter and Chris Chelios back.
“Brent’s been through these (playoff) wars. He’s a leader as well as Cheli.”
Both will sit out the season finale Sunday in Dallas. The Hawks recalled Christian Laflamme, Steve Dubinsky and Jean-Yves Leroux from Indianapolis following Friday’s game.
Stick it to ’em: For the second time this season, goalie Jeff Hackett went to clear the puck and his stick broke. He lucked out both times–big-time on Friday, with Jarome Iginla hitting the post on an open net as Hackett tried to scramble back to the net.
What was going through his mind?
“I was thinking I’m going to switch stick companies,” said Hackett. “Sorry, Cooper.”
Case closed: There was some talk of the Hawks trying to even a score with Calgary’s Glen Featherstone for drilling Chelios in the back with a crosscheck last Sunday, knocking the Hawks’ captain out of Wednesday’s game with a sore back, but that all died down Friday.
“It wasn’t a vicious, dirty thing,” Chelios said of the hit. “It’s just part of the game.”
Stern test: Steve Smith has made a career out of being an NHL tough guy, but has had his playing time greatly reduced the last two seasons because of injuries. He finally got to show his punching power Friday, going toe-to-toe with Calgary’s Ron Stern.
“I think it was a good test for me,” said Smith.
