– It`s me, Jocelyn: Jocelyn Lemieux was knocked for a loop when he ran into either the stick or glove of Winnipeg`s Dave Ellett during the Blackhawks`
loss last Sunday. ”I was going to check him, and I hit one of those two things,” Lemieux said. ”I blanked out. I didn`t know who I was or where I was. Next thing I remember is waking up in the clubhouse and slowly remembering who I was. It`s kind of scary. I was sleepy all the next day, and I`m still getting headaches. But I don`t think it`ll stop me from checking people. I hope not. That`s what I do.”
– Crossing lines: Center Mike Hudson is one of the Hawks who have to pick up the slack with veterans such as Denis Savard and Al Secord out with injuries. ”There`s no checking line now, or a scoring line,” Hudson said. ”All four lines have to contribute scoring and checking. There`s no way we can rely just on Jeremy Roenick and Adam Creighton to do all the scoring. I`ve finally found a niche in the NHL, taking big draws and playing some left wing when we`re trying to protect a one-goal lead. Before, I tried not to make a mistake and lose games. Now, I know I can win games.”
– Don`t rib him: After scoring one goal in 35 NHL games before this season, Wayne Van Dorp is having quite a year for himself with four goals in 38 games. But after scoring a goal Sunday against Winnipeg, Van Dorp might have to sit out Thursday in Detroit with a pulled muscle in his rib cage. ”It`s the same thing Steve Thomas had earlier this season,” he said. ”He tried to come back too soon with it and hurt it worse. So I don`t want to rush it. Steve said he still feels it sometimes.”