At first glance, the Blackhawks’ 15-18-8 record at the halfway point of the season looks below average at best.
But if you start looking around the rest of the National Hockey League, it’s not so bad, right in the middle of the pack as a matter of fact. Then factor in countless injuries, most notably to Bob Probert, Ethan Moreau and Sergei Krivokrasov, and an 0-7 start, and the Hawks easily could be one of just 11 teams in the league above .500.
In the eight games before Monday night’s contest against Calgary, only Colorado and Dallas have been hotter than the Hawks, who seemed to turn the corner in a 0-0 tie Dec. 17 at Edmonton in what appeared to be a certain no-playoff season.
“Our best players are playing very well–(Alex) Zhamnov, (Tony) Amonte, (Chris) Chelios, (Eric) Daze–and our role players are chipping in and doing the job,” coach Craig Hartsburg said after Sunday’s 3-1 victory over Detroit that gave the Hawks a 5-1-2 record in the last eight games. “We’re playing well right now, but we have to continue to do it. The minute you start to feel satisfied or comfortable, that’s when you’re getting worse.”
The Hawks hit rock bottom Dec. 16 in Calgary when they blew a 3-1 second-period lead and lost 4-3 in overtime. They were 10-17-6 and tension was beginning to rise.
Team leaders Chelios, Amonte and Brent Sutter put their necks on the line by spouting off to the press after the loss, and the team responded. Chelios is playing his best hockey of the season and Amonte has been rock solid since getting on track in Game 8.
“Right now we’re all playing together,” said Chelios. “We have to work hard. That’s the only way we’ll have success.”
Can it continue? Will General Manager Bob Murray try to make a deal to strengthen the team before the March 25 trade deadline?
The next 41 games certainly will be worth watching.
