Defenseman Gary Suter did not make the trip to Detroit with the rest of the Blackhawks on Wednesday and will not play in Thursday night’s Western Conference final opener.
But Coach Darryl Sutter said there is a good chance Suter, who has a broken right hand, will be able to play in the second game of the series Sunday afternoon.
“We’re going to leave him here to get some therapy and proper treatment,” Sutter said. “That makes it three more days. As much as you want him back in there, it gives him almost a full week. There’s definitely a chance he’ll play Sunday as long as he keeps making practice. He skated again today and today was better than yesterday. He’s made progress both days. It’s going to be sore; it’s just a matter of how effective he can be with it.”
Powering up: The Blackhawks spent considerable time working on their recently ineffective power play Wednesday. Murray Craven practiced at the left point, usually Suter’s position.
“We looked at some game film,” said Joe Murphy. “We’ve got to move the puck more and not hang onto it as long and get more pucks at the net. If you don’t shoot, you won’t score. Obviously we want our power play to get going. We’ve come this far without it, but now we need it.”
But Murphy thinks that defense and goaltending will be the key to the series. “I think they’ll be low-scoring, close games,” he said. “One of the keys is going to be getting leads in games.
“They used to run-and-gun, but now they sit back and try to get a lead. And when they do get a goal or two lead, they don’t try to score more goals. They try to protect it.”
Going home: Jim Cummins, a Detroit native, is excited about going back home to play the Red Wings. “I’m from the area and nobody wants to win the series more than I do,” he said. “I know a lot of the guys on that team, but right now they’re going after something I want. You’ve got to put your friendships aside.”
Shaking off the rust: Keith Carney will play again Thursday in place of Suter and said he expects to feel more comfortable at the outset. Carney had missed 19 straight games, including 10 playoff games, before getting back in the lineup against Vancouver because of Suter’s injury.
“It was tough to be up there watching,” he said, “especially in the playoffs. That’s what you work all year for, the opportunity to play in the playoffs. Yet the team was doing so well and playing so well.
“At the start of the game, it took me a little while to get used to the speed of the game and game conditions. But I’ve got a game under my belt now and that will help. It gives me confidence.”
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