Jackets receive boost at practice

[IE]

Having Nash on ice with Fedorov, Svitov, Foote cheers mood

Even on a rainy, dreary day, the sun started coming up yesterday for the Blue Jackets.

Left winger Rick Nash, out the past four games because of a strained back, was a surprise participant in practice and could be on the verge of a return.

Center Sergei Fedorov (hyperextended elbow), center Alexander Svitov (bruised foot) and defenseman Adam Foote (flu) took the ice, too, and they all, along with Nash, packed their bags for a trip to Chicago, where at 7:30 tonight the Blue Jackets will play the Blackhawks in United Center.

"We looked like a completely different team on the ice today than we have the past three games," coach Ken Hitchcock said, smiling.

"We?ve gone from such a high (a Jan. 5 comeback win over Anaheim) to such difficult times in the span of only a few days. It was nice to see guys get back out and practice again."

Nash and Fedorov aren?t locks to play tonight, but they appear to be 50-50, maybe better.

Hitchcock said he expected Foote and Svitov to be able to play, as the Blue Jackets look to snap a four-game losing streak.

Fedorov?s weakened elbow has made shooting the puck and winning faceoffs difficult, but he returned to practice late last week.

But Nash wasn?t expected to take part so soon.

"I didn?t feel 100 percent out there, but it felt good today," Nash said. "We?ll just have to wait and see if it feels worse in the morning.

"It?s getting there. But game speed is a totally different thing."

Nash was hurt late in the Anaheim win, his back clutching up on him in the closing minute as he twisted to clear the puck.

It was thought to be a day-today injury, but it has lingered. Slowly now, he?s coming along.

"(Nash) started out tentatively, for obvious reasons," Hitchcock said. "But then he really got going as practice moved along. He got more and more competitive, as did Fedorov."

The rest of the Blue Jackets seemed to follow Nash and Fedorov yesterday.

A somber start to practice ended on an up note, almost like a bad mood had lifted.

"We were a little bit down on each other because of what has transpired," Hitchcock said, referring to the four-game losing streak. "But as we got going, it got a lot more competitive and we started to have fun. It was nice to see that we rebounded during a practice, and I think we feel better about ourselves heading into (tonight).

"Getting the guys back is a big lift. And it?s good timing for us, too."

This is a key week for the Blue Jackets if they hope to salvage a meaningful final three months of the season.

The Blue Jackets face Chicago tonight, Nashville on Thursday and Detroit on Friday before a six-day break for the All-Star Game.

The Jackets haven?t won consecutive games since Dec. 12, a span of 16 games. The swoon has dropped them to last place in the Western Conference, 14 points behind eighth-place Minnesota, an almost insurmountable number with only 37 games left to play.

Hitchcock no doubt has done the math. He would rather his players keep their heads down and keep playing hard.

"I told the guys today before practice: ?Nobody in the NHL can question our work ethic. It?s been tremendous. But what we need to see is better execution.?

"It?s frustrating because we?re pouring a lot in and not getting a lot out. If you?re not working hard or battling out there, that?s a whole different ball of wax. But that?s not the case with us.

"Now it?s time for us to get rewarded. If we keep working hard and we execute a little better, we?ll get rewarded."

 

[IE]

Barker gives Hawks much-needed spark

January 16, 2007

Given the Blackhawks' well-documented shortcomings on the power play, it's surprising that Cam Barker wasn't called up from Norfolk sooner.

The 20-year-old defenseman was the third overall pick in the 2004 draft, but tonight's game against Columbus at the United Center will be only his third NHL game. The Hawks felt Barker needed more seasoning last season and returned him to his junior team, the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League. He also played for Team Canada in the World Junior Championships.

Barker figured to contend for a roster spot this season until a lingering ankle injury required surgery in the preseason. Once he was healthy, the Hawks sent him to Norfolk to get in game shape, but they called up three other defensemen -- Danny Richmond, James Wisniewski and Dustin Byfuglien -- ahead of him.

Barker finally arrived Sunday after Adrian Aucoin's groin problems resurfaced, and he made an immediate impact in a 4-3 shootout loss to Minnesota. He scored on a 5-on-3 power play -- something the Hawks have done only three times in 21 opportunities -- and got off five shots in more than 21 minutes of ice time.


''I was impressed,'' coach Denis Savard said. ''He brings a vision that will help us a lot. He's a smart player who sees the ice real well.''

Barker wasn't upset when the Hawks didn't call him up sooner.

''It was just a matter of playing well and getting my confidence back,'' he said. ''Being out after major surgery like that, it takes a while. But I feel great now.''

The Hawks have had only two other top-three draft picks in the last 40 years. Savard was the third pick in 1980 and went on to a Hall of Fame career. Eddie Olczyk was the third pick in 1984, and the team's TV analyst enjoyed a solid 16-season career.

Savard said that the only thing holding Barker back has been his age.

''He's still a young kid, and his is a tough position to crack into the NHL right away,'' Savard said. ''Some guys take longer to become NHL players, but he's got everything he needs to be there. We're going to give him that opportunity.

''This isn't just a one-game thing. He's going to continue to play and will play more minutes. We'll break him in nice and easy, but he can play 25 to 27 minutes. He's going to be an exceptional player, but at the same time, we want to be sure we're doing the right thing for him.''

Barker is aware that his power-play prowess is the main thing that got him to the NHL so soon.

''It's one of my strengths, something I've always done,'' he said. ''Every team I've played on, that's something they've counted on me to do. It's what I want to do here.''

The numbers show how important it is that Barker plays well. The Hawks' power play has ranked last in the league since November, and during their current slump -- six straight losses, eight in nine games -- they are 3-for-44 with the man advantage.

NOTES: In the aftermath of the controversial ending to Sunday's game, the Hawks have asked that video goal judging and the goal review process be added to the agenda at the NHL board of governors meeting Jan. 23 in Dallas. Otherwise, the Hawks won't protest the game further.

''We won't fight City Hall,'' coach Denis Savard said. ''We'll move on.''

? ? Savard will do some line juggling tonight. First-line winger Peter Bondra (neck, shoulder) is out and Karl Stewart will return to the checking line after being out since Dec. 22 with a sprained ankle.

? ? Defenseman Jassen Cullimore returned to practice Monday after being sidelined by a rotator cuff injury, but Savard ruled him out of tonight's game. Defenseman Jim Vandermeer, who has been playing on a bruised ankle, and goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin, who has started 18 consecutive games, were kept off the ice.

? ? Captain Adrian Aucoin won't return from a groin strain until after the Jan. 24 All-Star Game. Aucoin sat out 18 games with groin problems last season and has missed another 12 this season. Coupled with last season's shoulder injury, Aucoin has played in only 64 of a possible 127 games since signing a four-year, $16 million contract with the Hawks.

TONIGHT
BLUE JACKETS AT BLACKHAWKS
The facts: 6:30, Versus, 670-AM.
The story line: All-Star winger Rick Nash is questionable with back spasms for Columbus, which sits in last place in the Western Conference but just three points behind the Hawks. The Blue Jackets might regain centers Sergei Fedorov (hyperextended elbow) and Alexander Svitov (bruised foot), defenseman Adam Foote (flu) and left wing Jody Shelley (scratched eye) for tonight's game.