Flu ends Lapointe's streak at 254 games

For the first time since joining the Blackhawks in 2005, Martin Lapointe missed a game, sitting out Wednesday night's 6-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues because of the flu.

Lapointe had played in 209 consecutive games with the Hawks and 254 straight dating to the 2003-04 season when he was with the Boston Bruins.

"He was very sick," Hawks coach Denis Savard said. "He wanted to play so bad, but on the way down to the rink he was sick in the car. The doctor looked at him and he still wanted to play, but that's not the right thing. We don't want this to spread through the locker room.

"He's just a great competitor. He said he never missed a game with the flu, but he didn't look very good."

There's a chance Lapointe won't fly to Colorado with the team today so as not to contaminate the plane.

Not only did the Hawks play without Lapointe, they lost winger Kris Versteeg to a shoulder injury during the course of the game.

"I don't think it's very serious," Savard said. "We'll call it a bruised shoulder for now. He probably won't play this week, but we'll evaluate it (today)."

Jack Skille got more ice time with Versteeg down and responded with a goal and an assist.

"Jack Skille stepped up," Savard said. We can't forget how well he played. He had a heck of a game for us. He was skating, he was on the puck, and he scored a nice goal when he initiated our forecheck."

Looking good: When James Wisniewski returns from the injury list and takes his place back on defense, the Hawks could have a tough decision to make.

Rookie Jordan Hendry has played well in four games since being recalled from Rockford and might be making it difficult for the Hawks to send him back.

"He skates well," coach Denis Savard said. "I like the fact he's a good skater and keeps it simple. He can skate and recover, and now it's just experience. He's going to gain more experience as he goes along, and the more games he plays the better he's going to get."

Hendry, signed as a free agent in March 2006, played 14 minutes Wednesday and was plus-1 with 2 blocked shots.

Wisniewski has returned to practice and will go on the road trip that starts Friday in Colorado, but there is no set date for his return.

"I want to take my time with him," Savard said.

Scout spotted: Hawks assistant general manager Rick Dudley was seen watching Tampa Bay play Monday.

With rumors of Nikolai Khabibulin being available, it's only natural to connect the dots with the Lightning -- Khabibulin's former team and one that is last in the Eastern Conference largely because of poor goaltending.