The record shows that winless trips before Christmas are nothing new for the Blackhawks.
Last season was an exception during the annual trek when the circus comes to the Stadium. The Hawks were 5-1 then, presaging a strong season on the road and at home.
But they were 0-4-1 during their first major trip of 1989-90 in October and 0-6 from Nov. 25-Dec. 5. They were 0-7 in 1988 first time out on the road, and from Nov. 23-Dec. 10 were only 1-4-1.
Now losers of five straight after this recent trip finished Sunday in Winnipeg, the last time the Hawks lost six in a row was Nov.-Dec., 1988, when they lost nine straight.
Reunion again: The Hawks seem to run into ex-mates everywhere they turn. They will play against former teammates Steve Thomas and Adam Creighton when Brent Sutter returns Saturday to Long Island for the first time since the Oct. 25 trade.
Thomas has 17 points (six goals) in 16 games with the Islanders. Creighton has four goals, three assists. Sutter has two assists Sunday against Winnipeg and now has 10 points (two goals).
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Blurry eyes: Troy Murray was the first to admit he didn`t play like the team captain Sunday. It was the Winnipeg center`s first game against his former teammates.
”It was a blur,” Murray said. ”I can`t really tell you what was going on. It`s different lining up against so many old friends. I didn`t do a very good job leading this team.”
Not home yet: The Hawks won`t step onto the ice at the Stadium until Thursday at the morning workout in preparation for that night`s game with Los Angeles. They just started to put the ice down again Monday at the Stadium. The Hawks are scheduled to practice Tuesday and Wednesday at the University of Illinois- Chicago`s practice rink.
Good news: Coach Mike Keenan was happy to hear a report out of Team Canada that the Hawks` Karl Dykhuis has taken on teammate Eric Lindros in a practice scrap. Dykhuis` need to improve his toughness is one of the factors Keenan wants him to develop before he returns to the NHL.