One man`s pain is another man`s joy.
Blackhawks center Mike Hudson interrupted his talk with the media and joked to an injured Troy Murray: ”I`ve been dogging you here.”
Murray just smiled and leaned over to whisper privately to Hudson, whose up-and-down season exploded like fireworks when he contributed a goal and two assists in the Hawks` 5-1 victory Sunday night over Detroit.
Just as Hudson received his chance to play in this significant game because the sidelined Murray had ripped off the nail of his right thumb in Saturday`s game in Minnesota, another Hawk will have to fill an opening left by Michel Goulet.
Goulet sprained his knee in Sunday`s game and left the dressing room on crutches. Coach Mike Keenan wasn`t certain how long Goulet would be sidelined, but it appears likely he will be down for a while and unavailable to open the Stanley Cup playoffs Thursday against Minnesota.
Taking Goulet`s 27 goals and 38 assists out of the lineup could hurt the Hawks, who struggle at times to muster enough offense to put away an opponent. Tony McKegney has been looking for a chance to prove he still belongs with the Hawks, so perhaps Goulet`s injury could spark him if Keenan decides to dress McKegney for the playoffs.
Murray`s injury is day-to-day, but even if he were healthy enough to return Thursday, Keenan would have to consider giving Hudson another chance after this sterling effort by a player who has often sat out this season.
On his way to the Stanley Cup, Hudson`s other goal is to prove to Keenan that he has made a mistake this season by overlooking him. Hudson wasn`t in the lineup in Saturday night`s crucial game in Minnesota, for instance.
”I don`t think it`s been anything personal with Mike, but you think that it is sometimes,” Hudson said. ”I want to prove deep down that he was wrong about me.”
Wayne Presley, who played on Hudson`s line Sunday, understands more than most what Hudson is feeling. Keenan also benched him extensively last season, only to have Presley register nine playoff goals to bolster his reputation.
”Huddie was outstanding tonight,” Presley said. ”It`s good to see him getting his chance.”
Together, perhaps Presley and Hudson could team up in the playoffs to prove a point to Keenan. He would be the first to applaud that aggression.
More Top Picks Branch Ergonomic
As long as it wins him a Cup, Keenan isn`t too egotistic a man to say that he might have been wrong.
A Cup soothes all wounds.