Frolik’s long goal drought finally over
Think Michael Frolik was frustrated over not scoring in his first nine games with the Blackhawks?
Try again.
Frolik’s frustrations went back a lot further than that.
Counting his goal drought with the Florida Panthers before being traded to the Hawks, Frolik hadn’t scored in 32 games dating to Dec. 17 before he scored in the first period Wednesday night.
Frolik also had 2 assists in the 6-4 victory over the Flames.
“I would like to help the team more with some goals or some points or something like that,” Frolik said before the game. “It’s been awhile so it’s kind of there in the head. The guys have tried to help me, telling me not to think about it too much and stay positive.”
Fortunately for Frolik he’s not in Florida anymore, where there was pressure on him to score as a first-line player. With the Hawks there’s Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp, Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa to take the scoring pressure off Frolik.
“In Florida the whole pressure was on our line,” Frolik said. “The pressure is lower here for sure because those guys are scoring. You just try to your job and we are winning, so that’s a good thing.”
Hawks coach Joel Quenneville has talked with Frolik about not letting the lack of goals affect other things that need to get done on the ice.
“I like the trend he’s got,” Quenneville said. “I don’t want to put so much pressure on him where he’s thinking he has to score.
“He’s doing what we want him doing to complement how we play as a team. He’s responsible without the puck and in the right areas. I just think being a little friendlier with the puck when it’s time to cash in is something he’d like, but it’s just a matter of time for that to happen.”
Tiebreaker talk:
The rules change the NHL made last off-season pertaining to the first tiebreaker for teams with the identical number of points is starting to be a factor in the playoff races.
The first tiebreaker now is most wins in regulation and overtime, not counting victories gained in shootouts.
Joel Quenneville said simply getting the 2 points whatever way necessary remains the main objective every night.
“I don’t think it changes too much,” Quenneville said. “Our thought process late in games is let’s get points for sure. I don’t know if you want to press too much in overtime for the extra point and overcompensate and try to get it done earlier. That’s not part of our strategy.”
The Hawks have 5 wins in shootouts this year.