If you can’t join them, beat them.
The Blackhawks, of course, are out of the postseason party for the third straight season but they did have an impact in a playoff race Wednesday.
The Hawks played the role of spoiler at the United Center, crippling Anaheim’s faint playoff hopes with a 5-2 victory.
“It means something to our players to beat teams trying to get to the playoffs,” associate coach Lorne Molleken said.
Jean-Yves Leroux’s soft wrist shot that eluded Guy Hebert proved the game-winner at 10 minutes 18 seconds of the third period.
Anders Eriksson’s sweet drop pass set up the score, which came just 38 seconds after Paul Kariya had tied the score on a breakaway goal.
Bob Probert’s breakaway goal with 3:23 remaining clinched matters. Tony Amonte added an empty-netter with 1:06 left.
Steve Sullivan opened the scoring at 14:47 of the first with a one-timer off a feed from Alex Zhamnov. The goal marked Sullivan’s 20th, equaling his career high.
“Twenty is a mark that is known around the league,” Sullivan said.
Kevin Dean made it 2-0 at 5:32 of the second when, with Ryan VandenBussche creating traffic in front, his wrist shot from the point beat Hebert.
Ruslan Salei countered for Anaheim just 54 seconds after Dean’s goal. But Jocelyn Thibault, who finished with 27 saves, denied a point-blank chance by Kariya just before Probert’s insurance goal.
The Mighty Ducks also hit three posts.
“I just wish we’d played like this earlier,” Sullivan said.
Dotted line: Expect Mike Smith, manager of hockey operations, to have several discussions with agent Jeff Solomon this summer. Solomon represents both Bryan McCabe and Dean.
Dean is an unrestricted free agent this summer.
“I’m sure we’ll have some discussions about him,” Smith said. “He’s played alright here. And he’s gotten more ice time for us than he has for any other team he’s played with.”
Smith has until July 1 to decide whether or not to pick up the $1.75 million club option on McCabe’s contract. If the Hawks choose not to, McCabe will be forced to choose between arbitration or re-negotiation as a restricted free agent. Because McCabe has arbitration rights, the Hawks’ qualifying offer need only be for the $1.575 million makes this season.
Extra stuff: You won’t hear any arguments from Anaheim about Amonte’s desire to see four-on-four overtime retained next season but with an altered point system. Amonte thinks teams that lose in overtime shouldn’t be awarded a point. If such a scenario existed this season, Anaheim would be in seventh place in the Western Conference playoff picture rather than fighting for the final spot.
“I think four-on-four is a lot of fun to play and is good for the fans to see,” Amonte said. “There are a lot more teams taking chances to try to score goals and there were a lot more decisions than in years past. But I think we should go back to the old point system.”
Ice chips: Forward Eric Daze, who underwent surgery to repair a herniated disc March 21, has begun stretching exercises and will soon begin a rehabilitation program expected to take six to eight weeks. . . . Molleken said backup goaltender Steve Passmore will draw one of the two remaining starts this weekend against St. Louis. . . . Prospect Mark Bell is in Chicago to see Hawks doctors after concussions cut short his junior season.
