Savard looking for less 'comfort zone'

Denis Savard said he believes the Blackhawks can be a special team, and the head coach wants his players to start believing it, too.

The Hawks are off to a solid 14-10-2 start, but Savard thinks the potential is there to separate themselves from the pack fighting for playoff spots in the Western Conference.

"We have to step out of our comfort zone as an individual and take it to another level, all of us have to," Savard said Monday. "We have to try and find a way within the structure of our team to try to separate ourselves from the other teams, and that's getting out of your comfort zone.

"Everybody has to do that. We've done it on lots of nights, but it has to be every night."

Savard wants to see clunkers like Saturday in St. Louis eliminated. The Hawks went into an important Central Division game and laid an egg in a 3-1 loss.

Getting out of the comfort zone basically means sacrificing and giving more.

"Individually, players feel like they've done a good job, but you can do better than that, you can do a better job," Savard said. "There's still another notch in your game. We're going to have get more cuts on our faces, that's what getting out of your comfort zone is.

"If you look at the games we've won, how we came out of some of those games, guys with cuts and bruises. That's the bottom line in this game, at this level, in this league -- you have to pay a price, and we have, but the more we do it the more wins we're going to have."

Follow the leaders: Brent Seabrook and Jonathan Toews will be the sixth and seventh Hawks to serve as alternate captains this season.

Denis Savard on Monday named Seabrook and Toews captains for the month of December. Robert Lang and Patrick Sharp served in those roles in October, with Tuomo Ruutu and Brent Sopel wearing letters in November.

Martin Lapointe has worn the 'A' on his jersey several times because of injuries or illness.

Savard has said he would not name a full-time captain this season.

"I think they're doing a great thing this year because we've got so many guys that are capable of that role on this team," Seabrook said. "They've done a good job of picking guys and making everybody feel part of the leadership part."

Forward progress: With defenseman James Wisniewski returning to the lineup Wednesday against Vancouver, Dustin Byfuglien practiced at wing Monday on a line with Patrick Sharp and Adam Burish.

Denis Savard said he has no problem playing Byfuglien at either wing or defense.

"I think he has played well at both positions," Savard said. "I think he enjoys playing up front. Buff wants the puck and he wants to be down below the circles."

Savard likes the idea of seeing the 6-foot-3, 246-pound Byfuglien on the forecheck as a wing.

"If the defense wants to go back and get the puck, good luck," Savard said.