Big Bob Probert was living in the present and loving it Wednesday night in the Blackhawks’ dressing room in the United Center.
He had gotten his second and third goals of the season–his first two-goal game since April 11, 1996–and his team had stretched its undefeated string to five games by shutting out the Florida Panthers 5-0.
Probert, who made his reputation as a fighter not a scorer, was asked how it felt to be on the first line with Tony Amonte and Alex Zhamnov.
“It’s a great feeling,” answered the 35-year-old left wing. “It’s a better feeling winning games. Look at our 9-2-2 record [in the last 13 games]. It’s a big step from where we started the season.
“Our confidence is high right now. Another shutout is great for Jocelyn Thibault’s confidence.”
Thibault complemented a strong defensive performance by his teammates by recording perhaps the easiest of his four shutouts this season. The toughest of his 16 saves came in the waning seconds of the second period when he stopped a pair of point-blank shots by Pavel Bare.
By then, the Hawks’ fourth victory in their five-game unbeaten streak already appeared to be in the bank, thanks to first-period goals by Eric Daze, Boris Mironov and Probert, Probert’s coming with one second remaining.
After holding the Panthers to four shots in a scoreless second period, the Hawks padded Thibault’s cushion with a short-handed goal by Tony Amonte and Probert’s second of the night.
The Hawks are seven points behind Edmonton in their quest for the Western Conference’s eighth playoff slot.
