Coach Brian Sutter has thus far successfully guided the Blackhawks through their first test of the season–the loss of Eric Daze to injury and Theo Fleury to suspension.
Without two key offensive players, the Hawks have claimed 18 out of a possible 30 points through the first 15 games and are just three points behind St. Louis for the Central Division lead.
Now comes the next test–reintegrating Daze, and eventually Fleury, into the lineup.
Sutter said Monday that Daze was close to making his season debut.
“If these were the playoffs, he’d be playing,” Sutter said.
Daze’s first game may come Friday against Washington at the United Center.
The question Sutter faces is: Where does he put Daze?
“I’m not going to be afraid to move things around,” Sutter said. “[Steve Sullivan] can play on the left or right, Dazer, when he comes back, can play left or right.”
Sullivan, with goals in three of his last four games, seems to have found a home on a line with center Alex Zhamnov and Sergei Berezin.
Zhamnov, despite 12 assists, hasn’t scored since the second game of the season and is on pace to collect 131 minutes in penalties.
Berezin still is looking for his first even-strength goal and passed up an empty net Monday for an ill-advised pass.
