Blackhawks' Stalberg confident despite lack of goals
As much tough luck as Viktor Stalberg has had scoring goals, his confidence is not shaken.
Stalberg was looking for his first goal in 20 games when the Hawks took on Ottawa at the United Center.
“I don't feel too stressed about it for some reason,” Stalberg said. “If it was last year, I probably would have the way I would get sent down (in Toronto).
“This year, I have little more confidence in what I'm doing and I feel the coaches have more confidence in me too. I'm just trying to help the team as much as I can. I know I can score goals and hopefully when the first one goes in they'll keep coming.”
Stalberg's tough luck has included getting a sure goal taken away by a quick whistle in San Jose last month; teammate Dave Bolland deflecting wide Stalberg's shot at a open net at Anaheim on Sunday; and Wednesday's missed penalty shot against Dallas when he hit both posts and the crossbar.
“I don't think I could get a thousand pucks out there and do the same thing,” Stalberg said. “That's how things have been going lately.”
Stalberg started the game on the top line with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane but was moved off in favor of Troy Brouwer after the first period.
No rest for Leddy:
Rookie defenseman Nick Leddy was formally recalled from Rockford on Friday and was in the lineup with Jordan Hendry as his partner.
“It was surprise to me to get the call,” said Leddy, just back from the World Junior Championships. “I thought I would have the weekend off backing Minnesota, but I got the call.”
Leddy comes up with more confidence than early in the season when he played six games with the Hawks.
“Defensively, I've really been trying to improve in that area,” Leddy said.
“I think he has progressed and he looks bigger to me off the ice and on the ice,” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. “I think the World Juniors was good for him as well.
“He gives us more puck possession and more presence offensively in that area. He played well when he was here earlier. I think that consistency was something he added as he worked his way down there.”
Work to do:
The Hawks were 12th in the Western Conference before Friday's games.
“We could look back probably after Game 20, and it might not have been the 12th seed in the conference, but percentage-wise I think that might have been where we're at,” Quenneville said. “The fact that everybody is picking up points, it's up to us to put ourselves in the spot we want to be.”