Wheaton's Dzingel dealing with off-ice issue
As tough of a season as this has been for the Blackhawks, it has been that much tougher for Ryan Dzingel and the Ottawa Senators.
Dzingel, a Wheaton Academy graduate, is in his second year with seventh-place Ottawa and has been recently dealing with a personal off-ice issue that forced him to miss two games.
The 25-year-old forward addressed a small group of reporters in the visiting dressing room Tuesday at the United Center after the Senators' practice.
"I just want to keep it between me and my family," said Dzingel, who will play against the Blackhawks on Wednesday. "Just some health issues. I appreciated everyone's texts and prayers. I'll just keep it at that for now."
Dzingel, a seventh-round pick of Ottawa in 2011, may have missed more time, but he didn't want to pass up the chance to play in front of friends and family.
"It's a big game for me and my family coming back to Chicago," said Dzingel, who had about 200 people waiting for him after he played at the UC last season. "A little less this year, but still going to have 100-plus after the game. It's going to be a lot of fun."
Dzingel has 15 goals and 11 assists in 56 games.
As for the Senators, they reached the Eastern Conference final last season but were eliminated by Pittsburgh in six games. Dzingel tied Game 6 at 2-2 with 5:19 remaining in regulation, but the Penguins won in overtime.
This campaign has been a completely different story as Ottawa lost 12 of 13 after an 8-3-5 start and never recovered. There have been trade rumors about nearly every player on the roster for more than a month.
Forsberg has the net:
Anton Forsberg will make his fourth straight start when the Hawks on Wednesday. Coach Joel Quenneville is hoping more consistent playing time will help Forsberg fine tune his game.
"He's got the net a little bit more," Quenneville said. "Maybe that will help, not just playing but situations around the net, handling the puck, feeling his defense on a consistent basis. (That) helps you make better decisions."
Forsberg allowed 7 goals on 84 shots the last three games for a .917 save percentage.
One More Shift:
The Blackhawks will honor Troy Murray with One More Shift before they host Ottawa on Wednesday. Murray, who does color commentary on WGN 720-AM, scored 197 goals and had 291 assists from 1981-91 and 1992-94. He won the Selke Trophy (best defensive forward) in 1985-86 and won a Stanley Cup with Colorado in 1995-96.
Murray will join the Hawks on the ice after the starting lineup has been announced.
He said it:
"There's times where we're way too easy to play against. There are teams that come into our building and leave thinking, 'That was easy.' That's not who we are."
- Ryan Hartman
Blackhawks vs. Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m. Wednesday
TV: NBCSCH
Radio: WGN 720-AM
The skinny: The Sens are 6-4-0 since dropping six in a row from Jan. 18-30. Over that stretch, they've beaten Anaheim (30-20-11), Philadelphia (35-22-4) and Nashville (35-14-9). … Ottawa's leading scorer is Mark Stone (19G, 31A). … Barrington High graduate Craig Anderson is having a rough season in net as he ranks 44th in save percentage (.903) and 45th in goals-against average (3.21). … The Hawks beat 8-2 Ottawa on Jan. 8, thanks in large part to 4 power-play goals.
Next: San Jose Sharks at United Center, 7:30 p.m. Friday
- John Dietz