BLOOMINGTON, Minn. When the Blackhawks take on Minnesota in Game3 of their 1-1 playoff series tonight (7, SportsChannel, 780-AM),they'll be looking for a little more R & R.
In this case, the initials don't stand for rest and relaxation,but rather for Jeremy Roenick and Warren Rychel, who powered theHawks past the North Stars 5-2 to even the series Saturday.
Roenick had a goal and three assists. Rychel, 25, just calledup from Indianapolis, had a goal and two assists in his first NHLplayoff appearance and his first NHL game this season.
"This is the longest season I've ever played in," said Roenick,who is just 21 and getting used to the long haul of the NHL.
"That's something I've got to learn about. The last 10 games,I've been dragging. I needed to break out a bit and get back into agroove.
"I love the playoffs," Roenick said. "You have to thrive onplaying in big games. That's what all these guys have always done -guys like Steve Larmer, Chris Chelios and Ed Belfour."
Rychel's name might have to be added to the roll call.
At 6 feet, 190 pounds, Rychel has tried to make his mark as atough guy. But Rychel used his strength to fill the slot ratherthan bust heads when he was put on a scoring line with Roenick andLarmer.
"I always knew I could play the game," Rychel said. "I havetried to mix it up a lot, but (coach) Mike (Keenan) has told me forthree years to work on my whole game, so that's what I've done. Ithink my hands have improved - my shooting and my scoring touch."
When Rychel, who had gotten back to Indianapois at 5 a.m.Saturday after a 5 1/2-hour bus ride from Muskegon, Mich., was calledby Ice coach Dave McDowall at 9 a.m. Saturday, he said, "I thought itwas a crank call. I was really ticked."
He recovered quickly and stepped into the Hawks' lineup when aflu bug depleted the team.
"I saw him play a couple of weeks ago in Milwaukee," Keenansaid, "and he was the best player on the ice. He deserved theopportunity."
Rychel said he was aware Keenan was observing the Ice when theyplayed in Milwaukee.
"The word gets around the room, and you hear things about whatthey need," he said. "It's nothing concrete, but you get the ideathat they need a scorer or some toughness."
With the series moving to Minnesota for the next two games, theBlackhawks will have to win on the road because they lost Game 1 atthe Stadium and blew their home-ice advantage.
The Hawks were 1-2-1 at Minnesota this season but areencouraged by the 21-15-4 road record they compiled, second only tothe St. Louis Blues' 23-13-4.
"We've played well on the road all year, and we're going to haveto do it again," Larmer said.
There weren't any major tactical changes between Game 1 and 2,Roenick said. It was just a matter of the Hawks picking up theirgame a couple of notches.
That is what Keenan has come to expect from Roenick.
"He played better Saturday," Keenan said. "That's the type ofplay we have to see out of him at this point in the season. If hedid have a down period, it's understandable. But now it's time tocrank it back up."
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