Bob Probert discovered during the last month that sitting out is a lot tougher than being one of the toughest guys in the National Hockey League.
The Blackhawks got their enforcer back Monday night, having played the last 14 games without him after Probert tore a knee ligament Oct. 9 against Tampa Bay. Watching the Hawks’ highs and lows was difficult for Probert to stomach, but it didn’t take him long to get back in the flow.
Against Calgary, he looked a little rusty, but he squared off against Flames heavyweight Sandy McCarthy at 15 minutes 58 seconds of the first period.
“When the team wins, you really don’t feel you’re a part of it,” Probert said of his time off. “When they lose, you feel just as bad. You wish you could get back in to help out. When you sit out, it’s just tough.”
Probert’s absence was tough on Jim Cummins, who filled in admirably as the Hawks’ main fighter. But there’s no question Probert’s mere presence on the ice was missed, and no one was happier to have him back than Cummins.
“No one is going to feel that presence more than me,” he said. “It might be a little bit different (for the opposition) knowing in their heads that they might have to answer to Bob if they did something instead of me.”
“That’s part of my game,” Probert said of the toughness he adds to the Hawks’ lineup. “If I can help in that area, that will be great.
“It’s a tough job, especially if the opposing team starts to get a little out of hand. When you’re the only guy out there who does that type of work, it’s pretty tough, but Jimmy did a great job.”
No go: Alex Zhamnov’s broken toes are still too sore to put in his skates, so he sat out his third game Monday. Coach Craig Hartsburg said Zhamnov’s injury is improving, but that it’s possible the top-line center could miss another week or more.
Black out: James Black caught a rut in the ice in the third period of the Hawks’ 4-2 victory Saturday against the New York Islanders and strained his right knee. He didn’t play Monday and won’t dress Tuesday at Toronto, but Hartsburg said Black might be ready for Thursday’s home game against the Maple Leafs.
New environment: Former Hawks defenseman Steve Smith returned to the United Center for the first time since announcing his retirement in August. He’s now an assistant coach for Calgary and loving it. He has found the working hours a lot different, though.
“During training camp, we were on the ice all day,” he said, “then the coaches would get together for about an hour and a half and talk things over, then the general manager would want to go over things for an hour and a half, then we’d get together with the scouts.”
Flurry of words: Calgary’s Theo Fleury received 34 minutes in penalties ( double minor, misconduct, game misconduct and gross misconduct) during a third-period altercation Sunday in Detroit. What did he say to deserve that?
“You couldn’t print it in your newspaper anyway,” he told the Calgary Herald. “Put down as many expletives as you like.”
Been there: The Flames entered Monday’s game with just three victories in 18 games, five of the losses coming by one goal. The Hawks had similar troubles when they opened the season 0-7 and 2-10, losing the close encounters.
How did they break out of it?
“We didn’t accept being close,” Hartsburg said. “Once you accept being close, you’re destined to be close all year. With Brian Sutter (coaching), I know (the Flames) aren’t going to accept that.”
