Like old times for Lang, Williams

A year ago, Robert Lang and Jason Williams were skating on the same line with the Detroit Red Wings.

Now they are Blackhawks -- on the same line, no less.

Because of all the new additions and the loss of Martin Havlat, coach Denis Savard still is tinkering to find line combinations that work. Savard put Lang with Williams on Friday in Detroit, and he liked the results in that game and in Saturday's 2-1 overtime victory over Dallas.

"They have some good chemistry going," Savard said.

That chemistry seemed to get even better late in the Dallas game when Savard added rookie Patrick Kane to the line after Rene Bourque pulled a groin muscle.

Kane was there with Lang and Williams again at practice Monday and will skate with the two veterans on the top line Wednesday when St. Louis comes to the United Center.

"That turned out to be a pretty good line," Savard said. "I think the puck is going to be moved pretty quick. There's lots of skill on that line, and I just saw magic the other night against Dallas for the seven or eight minutes I used them."

Kane has played mostly with Jonathan Toews and Tuomo Ruutu up to this point.

"You'd like to keep the kids (Kane and Toews) together because they've played well, but I find that's the best fit for us right now, to put (Kane) up with those two guys (Lang and Williams)," Savard said. "Especially with two home games coming up and I get the last change and can play them against whoever I think they should be playing against."

Williams skated with Lang and Brendan Shanahan much of last season with the Red Wings before being traded to the Hawks in late February. He also skated on a line with Lang and Steve Yzerman in Detroit and likes the fact he is back with Lang.

"Certain guys will work together, and as a coach that's what you want to try to do, get certain guys together because you want to get the best out of everybody," Williams said. "If you can find a line or a defense setting that's going to make the team better, then you want to stick with them."

Gone for the most part are the days when lines stayed together for entire seasons through thick and thin.

"That's just the way it is now," Williams said. "If for some reason you don't play well, the coach will start switching it up and start switching lines.

"I know it's been only five or six games now and I've almost played with everybody."

Lang is off to a great start in his first season with the Hawks after signing as a free agent. He has 3 goals and 2 assists in five games -- 1 game-winning goal and another a game-tying goal. It was his goal Saturday with two seconds to play against Dallas that sent the game to overtime.

"He's a big-time player," Savard said. "He's got that experience. He's been around winning teams, playing in all situations throughout his career, scoring some big goals in his career, and he has continued to do that."

Lang is the kind of veteran presence the Hawks need to show rookies such as Kane and Toews how it's done in the NHL.

"He's a real pro," Savard said. "He comes to play every night and he comes to practice. The kids like him."