After spending the first 2 1/2 months of the season in Death Valley, the Blackhawks finally got back to sea level Friday night at the United Center.
Getting another stellar game from goaltender Jocelyn Thibault and goals from Dean McAmmond, Michael Nylander and Tony Amonte, they improved their record to .500 and extended their undefeated streak to six games by defeating the Washington Capitals 3-1.
“It’s a huge accomplishment for these guys after what they’ve gone through since training camp,” said coach Alpo Suhonen following the conquest that gives his team a 10-2-2 mark in its last 14 games. “I think we were a little nervous. We had a lot of problems with this team–they controlled the puck. We won because we played very good defense and Thibault was excellent.”
This fifth victory in the streak came against the first-place team in the Southeast Division. “It was a hard game for me,” said Thibault, who rejected 24 shots. “A lot of times when they shot from the blueline I was screened. They’re very good in front of the net–they were there like sharks.”
But the Hawks goaltender and his teammates responded to the urging of the 16,932 fans chanting “Thibault . . . Thibault . . . Thibault” and “Let’s go, Hawks!”
“Jocelyn made huge saves at important times and we found a way to win,” said Nylander, who jammed the puck past Olaf Kolzig (previously 5-0-1 against the Hawks) to snap a 1-1 tie late in the second period.
With 38 seconds remaining Amonte sealed the victory by putting the puck in an empty net.
Washington’s Joe Reekie scored the game’s first goal late in the first period but the Hawks answered seven seconds later. Chris Herperger won a faceoff in the Washington end and Dean McAmmond sent a shot flying by Kolzig.
On the shelf: Stephane Quintal, who was picked up on waivers from the New York Rangers on the opening day of the season, was out of the lineup for the first time when he sat out Friday’s game because of a groin injury. He hopes to be back Sunday.
