Hossa’s first goal in month saves the day
BOSTON— With 10 of his 17 goals coming in the third period or overtime, MarianHossa is used to having to wait for his goals. But he’d rather not go more than a month next time.
Hossa had the gamewinning goal in the Blackhawks’ 1- 0 victory over the Boston Bruins on Friday night, smacking in a Tanner Kero pass with 1: 26 left. It was Hossa’s first goal since Dec. 15, a span of 15 games — 10 that he played in and five that he missed with an upper- body injury.
Hossa had three assists in Tuesday’s win over Colorado, finding quick chemistry with rookies Vinnie Hinostroza and Kero.
“You notice how hard of a worker he is everywhere on the ice,” Kero said. “He’s always going hard on the pucks. He’s strong on pucks. He just makes things happen.”
Not lately, though. Hossa knew it was unlikely that he could keep up his earlyseason goal- scoring pace ( 16 goals in his first 31 games) all season. Very few players reach 40 goals in a season these days, and certainly not 38- year- olds coming off a 13- goal season.
“It would be nice to score all the time, but it’s not going to happen,” Hossa said before the game.
Hossa hardly was the only big- name player in a goalscoring drought lately. JonathanToews has one goal in his last 10 games, and Artem Anisimov hasn’t scored in seven. But nobody was too worried about Hossa.
“[ Hossa] came up with a big game [ in Colorado], production- wise,” coach Joel Quenneville said before the game. “It doesn’t always have to be shot in the net. His line had a big night.”
Two games is a small sample size, but the newlook third line has looked dangerous and has scored five goals in two games.
“Those guys are great skaters, they’ve been playing [ in the NHL] for a while and they show us great things,” Hossa said. “They’re getting more comfortable. It seems they’re having more and more chances. I like how the line looked the other day, and that’s a good sign.”
Kruger update
Marcus Kruger’s original timetable for his hand injury had him coming back Friday or Sunday at home against Vancouver. It has taken a little longer than expected, but Quenneville was optimistic that Kruger could join the team in practice and in a game sometime next week.
“I don’t think he’s too far away,” Quenneville said. “We’ll get him in before the All- Star break.”
Quality time
Ryan Hartman and Hinostroza have been playing together since they were kids, and their fathers have been on plenty of road trips together. So having all of them together on the road again this week during the dads’ trip has been particularly rewarding.
“It’s been good, it’s been fun,” Hartman said. “It’s nice to have him on the road. Usually he was paying for the road trips when we were young. All the expenses were on him and dinner and all that stuff. It’s nice to take him out to dinner.”
Said Hinostroza: “It’s really cool. Our dads, they were talking about it, laughing about it going back to when we were 12 going on road trips. It’s cool to be [ like] in the old days and rooming with our dads.”
Roster report
Quenneville replaced Andrew-Desjardins with Jordin Tootoo on the fourth line, not because of Desjardins’ play ( the line was quite effective against Colorado) but because he tried to get everyone involved with the players’ fathers on the road trip.
Only Michal Rozsival, who brought his son on the trip, didn’t get in either game.