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Fortin making most of chance to win spot with Chicago Blackhawks

The story of Alexandre Fortin - the surprising young winger who has wowed coaches throughout Blackhawks training camp - just won't go away.

Fortin, a 19-year-old Quebec native who earned a three-year, entry-level deal two weeks ago, scored a goal and added an impressive assist in the Hawks' 6-1 win over Detroit on Tuesday night at the United Center.

"For a guy who hasn't been drafted, I think that's been fun to watch," Duncan Keith said. "Kind of an underdog mentality where he's here to prove himself. I like to see that. It's a good story. The guy's hungry, he skates well and he's fast. … How can you not like him?"

There's certainly a lot to like, and coach Joel Quenneville gave his young phenom a chance to skate with Patrick Kane and Artem Anisimov against the Red Wings. The veterans tried easing Fortin's nerves beforehand, but how could he not be nervous skating with the reigning MVP?

"It's hard. It's a lot of pressure to play with two very good guys," Fortin said. "It's stress, it's a lot of stress. But like I said, I just have to play my game and every shift that I'm doing I'm just more comfortable and it's what I did tonight."

Fortin's assist on a Richard Panik goal in the second period was a thing of beauty. Flying down the right side, the youngster took a pass from Brian Campbell, carried the puck over the Red Wings' blue line, hit the brakes and saw Panik racing down the left side.

Fortin then threaded the puck between two Wings, and Panik buried a wrist shot past Jimmy Howard.

On his third-period goal, Fortin showed great awareness by kicking the puck to his stick after a Marcus Kruger shot bounced off Howard's pads. Fortin proceeded to beat Howard from a bad angle 10 feet left of the net.

If Fortin doesn't make the team, he will be reassigned to his junior team in Quebec and could not return this season. The Hawks also could opt to keep him on their roster for up to nine games before reassigning him.

Even if Fortin has the talent right now, general manager Stan Bowman and the Hawks' coaches also must assess whether he's ready for the rigors of an entire NHL season.

"Jumping in from junior to the pros, going from 60 (games) to 82, there's a lot more pressure and expectations," Quenneville said. "Guys are stronger, bigger.

"So over the course of a year you're going to get different challenges. It's part of the decision - how's he going to be able to handle it, sustain it strength-wise and energy-wise?"

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