Until the last six weeks, Mark Bell only thought he knew what a slump was. Now the Blackhawks’ rookie left wing knows only too well.
He went into Wednesday night’s game with the Phoenix Coyotes 0-for-2002. He came out of the game 1-for-2002.
His empty-net goal with 2 minutes 29 seconds remaining in the Hawks’ 5-2 victory was his first tally since the day after Christmas. In the next 16 games his offensive production was limited to a single assist.
On paper, this wasn’t the Mark Bell who had eight goals and 13 assists to show for the first 32 games of the season.
“I’ve never ever had a slump this long,” said Bell. “I’m used to playing a lot of games (last season with the Hawks’ Norfolk farm team and during his four-year junior career with the Ottawa 67s). I’m getting opportunities to score. And my line isn’t getting scored on–that’s the good thing.
“I’ve started bearing down in practice and trying to score, hoping it will give me confidence that will carry over. It’s like getting your first NHL goal–once you get your first one you know the rest will come.”
Coach Brian Sutter likes what he has been seeing from Bell.
“I’m looking for people to step up and I sense Bell wants to be there,” said Sutter. “He’s had good chances.”
It’s contagious: The statistics suggest that slumps are contagious. Igor Korolev, who centers for Bell on the third line, hasn’t scored since since Dec. 21, when he had two goals against Edmonton.
Switcheroo: Mike Peluso had been playing right wing on the third line, but after 12 games without a point he was dropped to the fourth line and Ryan VandenBussche was promoted to the third line. VandenBussche assisted on what proved to be the winning goal by Jaroslav Spacek midway through the second period.
“We needed other people to contribute and they did tonight,” said Sutter, citing the contributions made by Spacek, VandenBussche and Bell which reinforced the play of the first and second lines.
“I told [VandenBussche] on the bench that I thought it was the best game I ever saw him play,” said Tony Amonte. “He forechecked hard and did a lot of good things out there.”
Trade: The Blackhawks traded forward Steve Dubinsky, who began the season with the Hawks but has spent most of the season with Milwaukee and Norfolk of the AHL, to Nashville for future considerations.
Throwing changeups: Sutter also has done some tinkering with first-line right wing Amonte and second-line right wing Steve Sullivan. In last week’s 3-1 loss in New Jersey, he moved Amonte to left wing, trading places with Kyle Calder, and occasionally used Sullivan at center.
“Every time Tony was on the ice [New Jersey defenseman] Scott Stevens was on the ice,” explained Sutter. “We wanted to get Tony away from Stevens and Kyle can play anywhere, so we did the unpredictable.
“Actually, Tony gets most of his chances on the left side. We caught them by surprise and their goalie [Martin Brodeur] had to make two great saves against him.”
