Gritty Burish doing whatever Hawks need

On most successful hockey teams, the skill players get the glory.

But behind every Martin Havlat there's an Adam Burish, and in Blackhawks coach Denis Savard's mind one cannot thrive without the other.

Burish might not have a goal in 30 games, but in no way does that diminish his value to the Hawks.

"I know he hasn't scored, but he's a leader," Savard said. "I call him my champion for a reason. He comes to play every night and does things well and does things for the team, and that's the bottom line for him."

The Hawks take a 15-13-2 record into tonight's game against the Sabres in Buffalo partly because of the way Burish kills penalties, blocks shots and stands up for his teammates -- whether he's playing on the third line or the fourth.

"I take a lot of pride in what my job is on this team and I work hard at it," Burish said. "Would I like to do what Pat Kane does and Marty Havlat does? Of course I would. I'd like to score 30 goals a year, but I understand that on good teams, on championship teams, you've got to have guys that accept their roles and take pride in their roles.

"That's something that I've learned the last couple years, that I enjoy and that I embrace. I take pride when I come back to the bench and guys pat me on the back and say great shift or great play. That's like scoring a goal for me."

Burish did register his first assist of the season on Tuomo Ruutu's first-period goal in Wednesday's 6-3 win over Los Angeles, but what really earned the admiration of his teammates was how he flew to Ruutu's aid moments later after his linemate was jumped by several Kings.

"Not that Ruuty can't handle himself because he's a big, strong boy, but that's my job, to help create that team toughness attitude that if you're going to come after one of our guys, one of our top players, I'm going to be right in your face," Burish said.

Burish received a game misconduct for his actions, which was OK with Savard.

"I have no problem with that at all," Savard said. "The first thing with him is the team. He'll do whatever it takes. Teams know when he's on the ice. I don't care about the numbers. I like everything he's done -- in the room, on the ice, penalty-killing -- he's been tremendous."

Savard sees a special makeup in Burish, who was a star at the University of Wisconsin and helped the Badgers win the 2006 NCAA title.

There might be a day when the Hawks look to Burish for more offense, but right now he understands his role on the team.

"In college, I played on the top line, the scoring line, but every step you go up in hockey your role is going to have to change a little bit," Burish said. "Every guy in this locker room at some point was the best player on their team.

"I understand why I'm here and what my job is," said Burish. "If you want to have a job in this league, you have to find a role. I'm not here to 30 or 40 goals. Do I think I can at some point score 30 goals? Yeah, I think I can, but I'm not going to change what I do to score more goals."

Scouting report

Blackhawks vs. Buffalo Sabres at HSBC Arena, 6 p.m.

TV: Comcast SportsNet

Radio: WSCR 670-AM

The skinny: The Hawks catch a break with the Sabres playing in Washington on Friday night. Tonight completes a tough stretch of seven games in 11 nights for Buffalo. A Stanley Cup contender last season, the Sabres are last in the Northeast Division and have missed Daniel Briere and Chris Drury, both of whom left last summer as free agents. Nikolai Khabibulin starts in goal for the Hawks, looking to avenge last season's 2-1 loss to the Sabres in Chicago.

Player to watch: Patrick Kane. The Hawks' rookie returns to his hometown, where he was a youth sensation.

Next game: Sunday vs. the Florida Panthers at the United Center, 6 p.m.

--Tim Sassone