He’s playing with a broken toe and with measurably less than 100 percent of his awesome talent and his team is down three games to none in the Western Conference finals. But Jeremy Roenick says he wouldn’t change a thing, unless it would be the outcome of the first three games against the Detroit Red Wings.
“This is hockey, this is fun,” said Roenick Wednesday. “No, it’s not fun having the luck we’re having and it’s not fun when you’re not getting chances, but this series is what the playoffs are all about. It’s a great battle. It’s been a lot of fun to play in and a lot of fun to watch.”
Roenick said he has no regrets at all about his decision to return from his knee injury despite not being able to do everything he is accustomed to doing on the ice.
“I wouldn’t have changed a thing,” he said. “There might be some people who think I shouldn’t be playing. But I’d make the same decision again regardless of what percentage I’m at. Just being part of this and trying to help the team win is very, very satisfying to me.”
“I obviously could be putting the puck in the net more. But this is by far the best defensive team I’ve played against this year. You might get one or two scoring chances a game, if you’re lucky.”
Roenick has just one assist so far in the series and has been hampered by his own limitations as well as the Red Wings’ defense. “That’s extremely frustrating,” he says, “but it’s something you have to work through. “
Suter questionable: Coach Darryl Sutter said that defenseman Gary Suter “played fine” Tuesday night after missing three games with a broken hand. But Sutter said the hand remains a problem and there’s no guarantee Suter will be in the lineup for Thursday’s Game 4.
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“He was a questionable player last night and he’ll be questionable ,” Sutter said Wednesday. “I don’t make that call because I trust Gary Suter. Last night he told me five minutes before the warmup his heart got in the way and he wanted to play.”
Suter helped move the Blackhawks offense with his passing and although his shots seemed to lack authority, he assisted on Bernie Nicholls’ first goal in 30 games.
Hackett may return: Backup goalie Jeff Hackett hopes to be back in uniform Thursday night after back spasms forced him to give up his seat on the Blackhawks bench Tuesday night for the first time in the playoffs. Jimmy Waite dressed in his place.
Hackett had to be helped off the ice after Monday’s practice. “I couldn’t walk after practice ,” Hackett said. “I did the same thing again. I twinged it.”