Jan. 23--When Blackhawks winger Richard Panik woke up Thursday morning, he felt a sinking feeling.
He had overslept his alarm and he was going to miss most if not all of the morning skate in Tampa before the Hawks played the Lightning. Anybody who has woken up late for an early-morning flight can probably relate.
"I woke up and I knew I'm not going to make it," Panik said. "It was terrifying especially when I'm new on the team."
Panik, who was acquired in a trade with the Maple Leafs on Jan. 3, said he took a cab to the arena after missing the team bus.
"I had to wait for a cab and there was traffic," Panik said. "Everything was going against me. ... Time is going and I'm like 'Oh, God.' "
As one might expect, coach Joel Quenneville was not too pleased with Panik's mistake and sat him for Thursday's game, even if it meant Quenneville dressed only 11 forwards and seven defensemen for Thursday's loss.
The good news for Panik was that he was back in the lineup for Friday's game against the Panthers.
"It's very rare, extremely rare," Quenneville said. "First time (I've seen it). It's something that can't happen. ... You have to deal with it."
Not only did Panik sit for Thursday's game but he took part in some bag skates after the Hawks were done with their morning skate. But Panik was expecting it. He knew he had messed up.
"I think it was punishment and I deserved it and now it's a new day and we're moving on," Panik said.
