Keeping with the Michael Jordan Week theme so prevalent in Chicago, several of the Blackhawks talked glowingly about playing in Madison Square Garden, long one of His Airness’ favorite arenas.
“Madison Square Garden, Friday night, what, are you kidding me? It’s always a big show,” Tony Amonte said. “This is the best.”
The Hawks haven’t lost here since March 11, 1992, a string of five games in which they are 4-0-1. Oddly enough, Amonte scored two goals in that ’92 game–for the Rangers.
But Jocelyn Thibault may own even larger bragging rights than Amonte. He improved to 5-1-1 lifetime at Madison Square Garden regular-season games with a sterling 32-save effort.
“I always like playing here,” he said. “There is a lot of atmosphere, which is good for a goalie. The fans are right on top of you.”
Those fans witnessed two spectacular Thibault saves on Wayne Gretzky in the third period to help preserve the road victory for the Hawks.
When No. 99 is bearing down on you, there is no time to reflect. Afterward, there is.
“He has been an idol to me for a long time,” Thibault said. “And probably to everyone in this room too. It’s such a challenge to play against him, but it is always fun to stop the best in the world.”
Said Hawks coach Dirk Graham: “Thibault was very good. That’s what you need on the road, good goaltending.”
Finally: Amonte broke a nine-game goal-scoring drought with an empty-netter with 2.1 seconds to play. And guess what? He’ll take it.
“They all count,” he joked.
For much of this season, Amonte has looked down on the rest of the goal-scorers in the league. Then the Flyers’ John LeClair caught and passed him. Then the Kings’ Luc Robitaille and Philadelphia’s Eric Lindros joined the race.
But Amonte, scoring his first goal since Dec. 23, tied Robitaille for second with 24, two behind LeClair. He also added a first-period assist.
“I’m just happy to get the `W’ and help the team put points on the board,” said Amonte.
The simple truth is the Hawks are anemic offensively thus far this season. And they need Amonte to score. He knows this simple truth. He knows he may be pressing because of it.
“I just have to relax and let the play come to me,” he said. “I’ve found myself getting too far ahead of the play. You’re off in the neutral zone looking for the play to develop. I’ve got to come up from behind the play.”
Check, please: The Hawks held their annual rookie dinner Wednesday night in Colorado Springs. The concept is simple: Go out to eat as a team, spend as much money as possible and let the rookies pick up the tab.
Facts on that final tab were sketchy, but the words “considerable sum” seem to apply. So do “five figures.”
Bet rookie Remi Royer is excited he just got called up.
Lineup card: The return of Doug Zmolek made Royer a healthy scratch Friday night. Zmolek missed six games with a pulled groin and skated with Dave Manson on the second defensive line.
“I had trouble judging the speed of guys coming at me and stuff like that,” Zmolek said. “But that will come with practice. And it was nice to be out there.”
Also, as expected, Jean-Yves Leroux made his season debut against the Rangers after missing all 42 games because of surgery to repair a torn abdominal muscle. Todd White got the healthy scratch to make room for Leroux.