Strome no longer fears benching over mistakes
The times have changed for Dylan Strome.
Not too long ago, making a mistake or having a bad game could turn into a benching. That’s not the case anymore.
Strome, who took three minor penalties in less than one period during Monday’s loss to the Flames, has already established himself as one of the Blackhawks’ key players since coming over in a trade with the Coyotes.
“It’s one of those games you try to forget,” he said before Wednesday’s game against the Predators. “Before if I did that I might be scratched. Now, I feel like I’m helping the team win and contributing and trying to win faceoffs. I’m just going to shrug it off and go out there (against the Predators) and forget it ever happened.”
Strome has seven goals in 21 games with the Hawks after scoring seven goals during the first 48 games of his career.
Hayden back in the lineup: Exactly where John Hayden fits into the Hawks’ lineup is something coach Jeremy Colliton is still trying to figure out.
He’s tried him on several lines, given him power play time and, like the last two games, made him a healthy scratch. Hayden was back in against the Predators, and Colliton knows what he wants to see.
“When he’s playing his best, he’s skating,” Colliton said. “He’s pressuring the puck. He’s getting to the battles early — on time. And then he’s able to use his size and his grittiness and comes up with some pucks and forces turnovers.
“We want him to play in the offensive zone because then he’s forechecking, he’s causing havoc. He protects the puck really well and he’s great cutting back and taking the puck to the net. That’s where we want him to be.” One-timers: Defenseman Gustav Forsling (upper torso) was placed on injured reserve retroactive to Jan. 5 . ... Brent Seabrook sat out Wednesday’s game with an illness and was replaced by Henri Jokiharju, who played his first game since returning from the World Junior Championships . ... Former Hawk Nick Schmaltz will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. “I talked to him yesterday a little bit,” Patrick Kane said. “Feel bad for him for sure.” ... Corey Crawford (concussion) was spotted at the United Center on Wednesday but there was no update on his condition.