Steve Thomas is 38 years old and his NHL career dates back to the 1984-85 season. Nevertheless, the thought of returning to the Blackhawks’ lineup Monday night still gave him a thrill.
“I couldn’t sleep last night,” Thomas said at the morning skate. “I don’t know if it was the time change coming back from California or what.”
The game with Dallas was only the 23rd this season for the right wing who gives the Hawks a much-needed additional scoring threat.
He fractured his left ankle blocking a shot Nov. 15 in Calgary, then broke the same ankle in the third period of his first game back Dec. 23 against Detroit and had to have surgery.
“My ankle feels much better than it did then,” Thomas said. “I’ve practiced for the last three weeks and never even considered my ankle. My major concern is to play a simple game, not make any mistakes and try to make something happen in the offensive zone by using my speed down the wing and going to the net.
“Sometimes when you watch a hockey game from the stands it gives you a different perspective. Hopefully, you learn from that. But there’s nothing like being in the action and being in game situations to get your feel back. I was hoping to get at least 10 games in before the end of the season so I’d be hitting on all cylinders when we go into the playoffs.”
At the start of Monday’s game coach Brian Sutter used Thomas with center Igor Korolev and left wing Aaron Downey.
Sutter believes the return of Thomas and the acquisition of Fitzgerald give the Hawks two important new assets for the final month of the season.
According to Sutter, Thomas “brings some elements to our game that are very important. He’s a high-energy guy. He skates and he brings a lot of experience and he and [Korolev] complement each other really well.”
Farmed out: To make room for Thomas, left wing Matt Henderson was sent to Norfolk.
