Halfway checkup for the Hawks
The Blackhawks reach the halfway point tonight in a season that easily has been the most memorable in more than a decade.
Dynamic rookies Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane have led a revival on the ice, while happenings off the ice under the leadership of new chairman Rocky Wirtz have given Hawks fans reason to believe that maybe winning a Stanley Cup in the near future isn't an impossible dream.
What was unimaginable only a few short months ago has become reality. The Hawks matter again in a town that had all but forgotten them. Fans are filling the United Center to watch a good and exciting product, and the team is being talked about on radio and written about nationally in a positive way.
All this, and there are home games on television.
But the biggest questions now are all about the hockey. Can the Hawks, now in the midst of a four-game losing streak, come back together in the second half, get healthy and make the playoffs?
The truth is it's not going to be easy, particularly with so many key players injured and the Western Conference tougher than ever from top to bottom.
Here's what to watch for in the second half for the Hawks:
Better health
The Hawks certainly are banged up, but injuries are part of every NHL season and the good teams are deep enough to overcome them. The Colorado Avalanche have injuries too, maybe worse than the Hawks, with Joe Sakic gone for 2-3 months following hernia surgery and Ryan Smyth out for 4-6 weeks with a broken ankle.
Hawks coach Denis Savard and general manager Dale Tallon claim the Hawks are deep, but are they really in NHL talent? We'll find out over the next few weeks with Toews, Dave Bolland, James Wisniewski and Kevyn Adams not due back anytime soon.
Martin Havlat, Jason Williams, Brent Sopel and Ben Eager are expected to return soon, perhaps even this week.
Havlat must stay on the ice in the second half, something he has been unable to do with much regularity in his two seasons with the Hawks.
Better goaltending
While Savard can't be faulted for defending Nikolai Khabibulin at every turn, the numbers don't lie: He is 15-13-3 with a 2.80 goals-against average and mediocre .900 save percentage.
Khabibulin needs to be a difference-maker on a more consistent basis, and he hasn't been on enough nights.
Backup Patrick Lalime's save percentage is even worse at .884.
Better home record
The Hawks are 8-6-3 at the United Center, which means they've lost nine times in 17 games on home ice. Teams don't make the playoffs playing .500 or near it at home.
Savard wanted the Hawks to win 25 games at the UC this season. With 19 games still to play on home ice, do the match. Hitting 25 victories isn't likely.
More contributors
Patrick Sharp, Kane and Toews (before he got hurt) have largely carried the offense along with major production from the defense.
The Hawks simply need more in the second half from Robert Lang, Rene Bourque, Tuomo Ruutu and Havlat to get where they want to go.
Lang has had some big nights, just not enough of them. With just 6 goals Ruutu is on pace to score 12.
Bourque, when healthy, isn't the consistent power winger Savard wants him to be. Bourque has 3 goals in 21 games, which would compute into about 12 for a full season. And 2 of his goals came in one game.
What does Dale do?
Tallon, still looking to the future, remains reluctant to trade any of his prospects for immediate help. But the Hawks have such great momentum in town that letting this season slip away instead of going for a playoff spot might be the wrong message to send fans.
The trade deadline is Feb. 26, and for the first time in years the Hawks might be buyers instead of sellers, depending on what happens between now and then.
The Hawks need at least one more scoring wing along with a veteran defenseman to play the point on what has become a sputtering and inconsistent power play.
Tonight's faceoff
Blackhawks vs. Detroit Red Wings at the United Center, 6 p.m.
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Radio: WSCR 670-AM
The skinny: The Red Wings' numbers are staggering. They are 31-8-3 for the season and 16-2-2 in their last 20 games, and they have allowed a league-low 89 goals. The Wings are 25-1-1 outside the Central Division with four of their 11 losses coming to the Hawks. Detroit beat Dallas 3-0 on Saturday behind goalie Dominik Hasek, who gets tonight off. For the Wings, Kirk Maltby (back) is out while Tomas Holmstrom (knee) is questionable. The Hawks' Patrick Sharp has 4 goals against the Wings.
Player to watch: Chris Osgood. Detroit's backup goalie is 18-2-1 with a 1.71 goals-against average and .931 save percentage.
Next game: Montreal Canadiens at the Molson Centre, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday
-- Tim Sassone