When the Blackhawks skate onto the ice for Sunday afternoon’s game with the St. Louis Blues, a sellout will greet them at the United Center.
When they left the ice after Wednesday’s 3-1 loss to New Jersey, a barrage of boos from 16,650 disappointed fans was ringing in their ears.
Hawks coach Brian Sutter liked what he heard in the wake of their previous game.
“When the fans booed the last game they had a right to,” he said. “They were paying us the biggest compliment anyone could pay us. They expected more.
“They were helping me. For them to be booing us for the way we played against the Stanley Cup finalists is something that I appreciate. Yes, we’ve got to get better. Absolutely. How do we do that? We’ve got to focus on what has made us good.”
The loss, which followed three straight ties, extended the Hawks’ winless streak to six games. They have relinquished fourth place in the Western Conference race.
During their winless streak the Hawks played six games in 10 nights, four on the road.
“We’ve gone through a tough stretch in the schedule,” said Sutter.
“These last two days are the first time since before we went on that trip that we’ve been able to have full practices. And when you don’t practice some things that are important to winning start to erode.
“I can give you four or five goals in the last two weeks that shouldn’t have gone in our net, goals that we could have done something to prevent and didn’t.”
Amonte affirmative: As expected, right wing Tony Amonte will play his 400th straight game Sunday, prolonging the longest streak by an active NHL player. He went down with a sprained right ankle at Friday’s practice and left the rink to see the team doctor. The injury is nagging but not serious.
“Same ankle I hurt [March 12] in Phoenix,” said the Hawks’ captain, who had a huge bag of ice on the tender ankle in the dressing room following Saturday’s practice. “It’s real sore but it’s not swollen. “
Bell negative: Rookie left wing Mark Bell, who has missed the last two games and hasn’t been able to practice because of an right hip injury, won’t play against the Blues. “I tried it but I just can’t play hockey when it’s like this,” said Bell. “I’m aiming for Wednesday [against Nashville].”
Sullivan maybe: Right wing Steve Sullivan, whose left shoulder was separated in Wednesday’s game, also was unable to practice. But Sutter wasn’t ruling him out of Sunday’s game. “We’ll see,” said the coach. “It wouldn’t surprise me.”
Mironov update: Defenseman Boris Mironov believes his right shoulder that was dislocated March 11 will be sufficiently rehabilitated to allow him to return to action in early April.
