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Tuesday, November 30, 1999
Haggard 'Hawks hobble into Ottawa
The Blackhawks' 5-14-4-2 record is cause for concern in itself, but add the fact that your starting goaltender is out indefinitely and you've got one major headache.
Chicago goalie Jocelyn Thibault broke his left ring finger when he tried to make a save on a slap shot by Al MacInnis during Saturday night's game in St. Louis. He's out 2-4 weeks.
While a number of teams might survive the absence of their No. 1 goalie, the Blackhawks will likely need to make a deal to bring in a veteran netminder.
The team has used a rotation of minor-leaguers to serve as Thibault's backup, but if Saturday's 8-3 loss to the Blues is any indication, the system just isn't working.
Backup Marc Lamothe, who was making his NHL debut, allowed seven goals on 25 shots.
Chicago coach Lorne Molleken didn't lay the blame on Lamothe. He was much more disappointed with his defence corps for giving up four goals on 11 shots in the first period.
PASSMORE RECALLED
Tonight against the Senators, Steve Passmore, recalled from Cleveland of the IHL, is likely to get the start for Chicago as he had a 3-4-1 record with a 2.66 GAA before being sent down to Cleveland Nov. 21 in favour of Lamothe.
"Obviously, I'm extremely concerned about the goaltending situation, but I don't want to panic," said Murray Sunday. "First we need to wait and see how Jocelyn is and then evaluate from there."
Murray isn't comfortable with the present situation, but hasn't been "comfortable" with the goaltending all year, so why should he be now? Murray said the team will go with Passmore and Lamothe for a couple of games, but "the goaltending situation is definitely under a microscope."
Goaltending isn't the only problem the Blackhawks need to deal with and Molleken made it clear to his team on Sunday with a gruelling on- and off-ice practice.
Molleken put the team through 60 minutes of hard skating followed by an extended workout off the ice.
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