Smith hopes he’s ready this time

It’s a boring 90-minute drive between Rockford and Chicago.

Just ask Ben Smith.

Whenever Smith does it, he uses the time to reflect on what’s happening in his career and admits the drive to Chicago is much better than going the other way because it means he’s coming to play for the Blackhawks.

“Yes, the drive east is better than the one going west,” he said.

Smith was recalled from Rockford again Monday after Patrick Sharp was diagnosed with a broken left wrist, and he scored a goal in Tuesday’s 5-2 win over Columbus.

Smith was hoping this tour of duty with the Hawks turns out better than his last stint from mid-November to mid-December, when he was minus-6 with 1 goal in seven games.

He was sent back to Rockford on Dec. 12 after playing just five minutes in a game against San Jose.

“You always learn a little bit every time you’re up here,” Smith said. “For me, it was maybe feeling a bit too much of the pressure. My mental approach this time is worry about today and we’ll see what happens tomorrow.”

Smith was one of the Hawks’ playoff heroes last spring when he scored 3 goals in the first-round series loss to Vancouver.

He came to training camp with a great chance to make the club but suffered a concussion in the preseason on a head shot from Detroit’s Brenden Smith that set him way back.

“One thing about Benny: You’ve got to love his character and he’s a driven kid that wants to play up here,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “We saw what he’s capable of last year.

“He had a real good start to camp and a tough ending. Last time up here he looks like he’s catching up to himself where we envisioned him being this year.”

Replacing Sharp:It#146;s not only Patrick Kane who is needed to bust out of his goal drought with Patrick Sharp gone 3-4 weeks with a broken wrist. Dave Bolland, Viktor Stalberg, Michael Frolik and Bryan Bickell must step up as well.Stalberg responded Tuesday with a hat trick against the Blue Jackets while Bolland scored a short-handed goal.Before facing Columbus on Tuesday, Bolland had 1 goal in 10 games, Frolik no goals in 11 games, Stalberg no goals in six games, and Bickell no goals in seven games and just 1 in his last 25.Bolland centered the second line for Marian Hossa and Jimmy Hayes, but for most of the season it has been Bolland, Bickell and Frolik with little production.#147;Whether Bolly#146;s got the checking assignment or not, that line has got be more consistent and effective at both ends of the rink,#148; Quenneville said. #147;I know we#146;re looking for a little more from them.#148;Bolland was minus-6, Bickell minus-9 and Frolik minus-7 before Tuesday.#147;We#146;re supposed to be the line that doesn#146;t get scored against, but looking at our stats we#146;re all in the minuses,#148; Bickell said. #147;We need to step up and prove to coach and to the team that we can do what we need to do.#148;