Reaching 90 points -- the target Blackhawks coach Denis Savard set for his time to make the playoffs for the first time in six seasons -- seems improbable after a 3-0 loss to Carolina on Wednesday extended the Hawks' losing streak to four games and left their point total at 73 with only 11 games to play.
They'll try to snap that streak tonight in Columbus against a Blue Jackets team that is equally desperate. Entering Thursday night's games, both teams were seven points behind Vancouver for the final Western Conference playoff spot.
''It's gut check now for the coaching staff and the players,'' Savard said after practice Thursday. ''And like I've already promised, our players are not giving up. They're going to keep coming.
''They fell behind early [Wednesday] and just couldn't recover, but it was not from lack of effort. Their character will come out [tonight].''
With starting goalie Nikolai Khabibulin still sidelined by back spasms and rookie Corey Crawford coming off back-to-back losses to Detroit and Carolina, Savard said he will start Patrick Lalime in the nets tonight rather than give his goalie of the future more reps.
''Sure, I'm going to take a good look at Corey and everybody else on the team,'' Savard said. ''Corey's played well, and I'm really proud of how he has come along in the last three years. But at the same time, we're still looking to make the playoffs, so I'm starting [Lalime].''
Khabby update
Khabibulin, who has missed the last 11 games, said he's ''feeling much better'' and expects to play again soon.
''We're bringing him on the road with us,'' Savard said. ''He's going to have another good skate [today], and we'll see. He may play this weekend or next week.''
Savard added that defenseman Brent Sopel (cracked wrist) and forward Ben Eager (dislocated shoulder) also are traveling with the team and might play Sunday against Calgary at the United Center.
Havlat surgery
The Hawks announced that forward Martin Havlat underwent ''successful'' shoulder surgery Thursday, the third operation on his left shoulder in the last three seasons. Havlat will undergo rehab in the offseason to prepare him for training camp in September.
They'll try to snap that streak tonight in Columbus against a Blue Jackets team that is equally desperate. Entering Thursday night's games, both teams were seven points behind Vancouver for the final Western Conference playoff spot.
''It's gut check now for the coaching staff and the players,'' Savard said after practice Thursday. ''And like I've already promised, our players are not giving up. They're going to keep coming.
''They fell behind early [Wednesday] and just couldn't recover, but it was not from lack of effort. Their character will come out [tonight].''
With starting goalie Nikolai Khabibulin still sidelined by back spasms and rookie Corey Crawford coming off back-to-back losses to Detroit and Carolina, Savard said he will start Patrick Lalime in the nets tonight rather than give his goalie of the future more reps.
''Sure, I'm going to take a good look at Corey and everybody else on the team,'' Savard said. ''Corey's played well, and I'm really proud of how he has come along in the last three years. But at the same time, we're still looking to make the playoffs, so I'm starting [Lalime].''
Khabby update
Khabibulin, who has missed the last 11 games, said he's ''feeling much better'' and expects to play again soon.
''We're bringing him on the road with us,'' Savard said. ''He's going to have another good skate [today], and we'll see. He may play this weekend or next week.''
Savard added that defenseman Brent Sopel (cracked wrist) and forward Ben Eager (dislocated shoulder) also are traveling with the team and might play Sunday against Calgary at the United Center.
Havlat surgery
The Hawks announced that forward Martin Havlat underwent ''successful'' shoulder surgery Thursday, the third operation on his left shoulder in the last three seasons. Havlat will undergo rehab in the offseason to prepare him for training camp in September.
