Musick: No hard feelings for Blackhawks

Did Toews really expect a building filled with 100 percent adoring fans when the Blackhawks returned to their home ice Tuesday? Did he wonder whether fans might be angry after a lengthy NHL lockout between ultra-wealthy owners and wealthy players?

“Not to say I take it for granted,” Toews said of the fan support. “But I had a feeling.”

If the Hawks keep winning, that feeling will only become stronger.

The Hawks beat the St. Louis Blues, 3-2, to win their long-delayed home opener that initially was scheduled for Oct. 13. The Hawks improved to 3-0-0 for the first time in 40 years and increased their scoring total to 14 goals in three contests.

Hey, players said afterward. It’s the least we could do.

Take it from Patrick Kane, the game’s No. 1 star, who thanked fans during a postgame interview that was broadcast through the speakers atop the United Center.

“To play here at home and to see that again – I know a lot of people were probably a little [ticked] off – but for them to come back and support us like that, that’s a good feeling for us,” Kane said. “It’s always fun playing in front of a big crowd like that. I think for all of us, we wanted to – not give them a show – but give them something to cheer about.”

A 113-day lockout angered plenty of people and threatened to spoil a sport that already lost one season in the past decade because of a labor dispute. But if any hard feelings lingered, they were about as identifiable as Manti Te’o’s girlfriend.

A hockey-starved crowd of 21,455 fans filled the building for the Hawks’ 191st consecutive sellout, which started during the 2007-08 season. Expect more of the same for the franchise that has led the NHL in attendance in each of the previous four seasons.

In retrospect, it seemed foolish to have expected any reaction other than pure excitement.

Yet before the game, I thought I heard boos as the Hawks stepped past the bench and on to the ice. A low-pitched sound emerged from the crowd and steadily gained volume.