Khabibulin wants more than words
BLACKHAWKS | Meeting has goaltender ready for action, not talk, after return from injury
The Blackhawks held a rare players-only meeting before practice Thursday, and goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin -- one of the few on the team who has played for a Stanley Cup champion -- didn't have much to say.
''I don't really like to talk. Rather than talk, I like to go out and lead by example,'' said Khabibulin, who did just that for the 2004 Tampa Bay Lightning immediately before signing a four-year, $27 million contract with the Hawks.With 17 games left in the regular season, the Hawks are focusing on a strong finish leading into a likely first postseason appearance since 2002. That's what the players-only meeting was all about.
''Over the years, I've heard quite a bit [of motivational talks], and it's always pretty much the same stuff,'' Khabibulin said. ''It makes sense, what the guys were saying. We just need to follow through on that.''
Khabibulin might be a key to a deep playoff run if he can play as he did before going down with a groin injury Feb. 11. He was 17-5-5 and the better of the Hawks' two goalies at that point. But Cristobal Huet played well while Khabibulin was out, and coach Joel Quenneville seems reluctant to return to the rotation he used before Khabibulin's injury.
Though Khabibulin was activated Wednesday and backed up Huet in a 3-2 shootout victory over Carolina, Quenneville is coming back with Huet again tonight against Columbus. Huet was in goal for two previous wins over the Blue Jackets.
''Khabby put one foot in the water [Wednesday],'' Quenneville said. ''Now he'll put the other foot in, and maybe he'll dive in on Sunday [against the New York Islanders].''
Khabibulin's recovery had two setbacks, but after a week of skating by himself, he has practiced twice with his teammates and will do so again at today's morning skate.
''At first I didn't think it was bad,'' he said. ''I wanted to see if I could tolerate the pain, went out a couple times with the team, took a couple shots and realized it wasn't something I could play with. But I've been feeling better and better.''
Dressing as the backup Wednesday was a sign of his progress.
''I wasn't 100 percent,'' he said, ''but to be back in a team environment and to be at ice level, seeing the game going through my head, was all good.''
Quenneville is taking a wait-and-see approach on how to use his high-priced goaltending tandem the rest of the way.
''I don't want to forecast a rotation,'' he said. ''We'll see how Khabby handles it once he gets in net. We'll get him playing as much as we can down the stretch. We want to get him into some sort of groove.''
Winger Martin Havlat has a better chance of returning tonight. He had no trouble going through practice Thursday, his first time on the ice since suffering an apparent leg bruise while blocking a shot Sunday against Colorado.
''It felt pretty good,'' Havlat said. ''It's getting better. We'll see [today] after warm-ups.''
