The adjustment from college to pro hockey is difficult in many ways on the ice, but Blackhawks prospect goalie Drew Commesso — one month into his first pro season in Rockford — has noticed one perk.
‘‘The really nice part is no homework and no class,’’ Commesso, 21, said with a laugh.
With all that free time, Commesso — who played at Boston University — has realized he can come to the rink early and stay late without it disrupting the rest of his daily schedule. He can do more stretches beforehand and more recovery afterward — and, of course, he can linger on the ice for as long as he wants.
All that has translated into impressive results so far. In his first five AHL starts with the IceHogs, Commesso is 3-2-0 with a .919 save percentage and a 2.22 goals-against average.
He saved 34 of 36 shots (and earned an assist) Oct. 13 to earn his first pro victory — ‘‘I can say, for a game, I was a point-per-game player,’’ he joked — then saved all 18 shots Oct. 28 to earn his first pro shutout.
The IceHogs’ other goalie, Jaxson Stauber, has struggled somewhat by comparison. Stauber is 2-3-0 with an .881 save percentage and a 4.21 GAA.
New Hawks developmental goalie coach Matt Smith came to Rockford this season after two years with Sault Ste. Marie of the Ontario Hockey League. He replaced Peter Aubry, who left to become an associate coach at Nebraska-Omaha. Commesso said he has worked with Smith on his behind-the-net play, in particular.
‘‘My skating has gotten a lot better, just being more efficient,’’ Commesso said. ‘‘[I’m] not necessarily faster than when I came to Rockford, but just being [more] efficient, which allows me to get from Point A to Point B much faster.’’
One thing Smith hasn’t altered, however, is that Commesso now holds his glove and blocker lower in his stance. Commesso made that change during summer workouts with Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman, who has enjoyed his own strong start to the NHL season.
‘‘That’s something [Smith] actually mentioned that he thought looked great,’’ Commesso said. ‘‘It’s obviously working for Jeremy, as well. [Swayman] told me it helps going to the pro game, where you don’t have as much time to react.’’
Injury updates
Although forward Taylor Hall didn’t play Thursday against the Lightning because of his knee injury, missing his sixth game this season, he practiced fully Wednesday and might return this weekend, coach Luke Richardson said.
Forward Andreas Athanasiou, however, is more like week-to-week because of his lower-body injury and isn’t close to resuming skating, Richardson said. The same can be said for defenseman Jarred Tinordi, who’s on injured reserve with an oblique injury.
Defenseman Nikita Zaitsev temporarily has left the team because of a personal matter and has been put on the non-roster list. He isn’t expected back in Chicago until next week at the earliest.
With Tinordi and Zaitsev out among the defensemen, Isaak Phillips and Filip Roos were called up from Rockford, although only Phillips dressed against the Lightning.
Forward Colin Blackwell, who hasn’t played since February because of a hernia, has been progressing steadily in the past few weeks and even rotated in and out of line rushes during practice Wednesday. The Hawks’ longer-term plans for him are unclear.
Nothing preplanned
Rookie Connor Bedard’s goal celebrations mostly have involved staring down fans in some kind of stationary pose, but he has made some tweaks from goal to goal. He insisted none has been preplanned, either.
‘‘[It’s] kinda whatever comes,’’ Bedard said. ‘‘Some of them are good; some of them are bad. Hopefully I can do a couple of more, but we’ll see.’’
