Canucks' hit that injured Wisniewski still angers Hawks
Defenseman James Wisniewski couldn't play Wednesday against Tampa Bay because of what the Blackhawks now are calling a mild concussion, the result of the hit he took from Vancouver's Matt Cooke on Sunday.
Wisniewski being unable to play only angered the Hawks more that Cooke didn't draw a penalty or receive a suspension from the NHL for the hit that drove Wisniewski's head into the glass.
"We've asked, but they said it was a clean hit," said Hawks general manager Dale Tallon. "I asked, 'Did (Cooke) leave his feet? Did he charge him?' They said no."
Wisniewski suffered a deep cut above his left eye in addition to the concussion. He practiced Tuesday and took part in the morning skate Wednesday but left the ice early.
"He's not feeling too good today," Tallon said.
Wisniewski couldn't understand why Cooke didn't receive a penalty on the play. Philadelphia's Scott Hartnell drew a major penalty and was suspended for two games for a similar hit over the weekend on Boston's Andrew Alberta, who also suffered a head injury.
"I guess it depends on who you hit," Wisniewski said. "It was James Wisniewski. You couldn't do that to Nicklas Lidstrom."
Hawks coach Denis Savard thinks it's getting more and more difficult to figure out what referees are going to call on hits near the boards or to the head.
"I don't know what the rule is, to tell you the truth," Savard said. "To me, if a guy is vulnerable and has no protection, I thought that was the rule. I've seen hits that are called and hits that are not called. It's up to the league to make that call and it's up to them to define what it is.
"They're trying to do the best they can and I know it's a fast game and all of that, but what is it? To me, anytime a guy has his back turned and you don't hold back it should be a penalty."
The Hawks won't have to wait long to see Cooke again since the Canucks come to the United Center next Wednesday.
"That's all right, what goes around comes around," Savard said.
Into the fire: Forget about easing Martin Havlat back into the lineup.
"The best way to get into it is to play a lot," Denis Savard said. "If he's going to play for the rest of the year with this he has to get in shape, and I think he is in shape. We've worked him hard."
Havlat returned Wednesday after missing 22 games with a shoulder injury.
He said it: Tuomo Ruutu on playing Tampa Bay: "They won the Stanley Cup a couple years ago and they haven't changed that much. Well, I guess we've got their goalie."