Williams returns after missing 35 games; Lapointe sits
Blackhawks coach Denis Savard didn't take Tuomo Ruutu out of the lineup Wednesday night, but he did drop the struggling winger from the first line.
Ruutu took shifts on the second, third and fourth lines against Minnesota at the United Center.
Martin Lapointe was Savard's choice to sit out with the return of Jason Williams, who was back after missing 35 games with a sports hernia.
Williams skated on a line with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp. Patrick Kane moved over to play with Robert Lang and Martin Havlat, replacing Ruutu, and scored a first-period goal.
Tuesday's loss at St. Louis was Ruutu's 29th straight without a goal. He also took a double minor penalty in the third period with the Hawks trailing 2-1. The Blues scored a power-play goal and went on to post a 5-1 win.
Lapointe's benching was curious in that he has been the subject of rumors ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline. At least two teams, Ottawa and Detroit, have been linked to having an interest in Lapointe.
It was the first time Lapointe was a healthy scratch since coming to the Hawks.
Step right up: Tickets for the inaugural Blackhawks convention go on sale today at 1 p.m. at the United Center box office, chicagoblackhawks.com and through Ticketmaster at (312) 559-1212.
Tickets are $50 for the convention, July 18-20 at the Hilton Chicago. Fans can make reservations to stay at the Hilton at 1-877-865-5320 beginning today at 1 p.m.
Fans making hotel reservations will receive two convention passes good for the entire weekend with each night's stay and have the opportunity to purchase four additional passes at $25 each.
This week NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman praised the Hawks and president John McDonough for their convention plans.
"I can't recall anyone (in the NHL) doing something quite like this," Bettman said. "There are plenty of clubs that do forums and gatherings for season-ticket holders, but a formal convention as elaborate as this one, one isn't coming to mind."
Moving along: The Philadelphia Flyers thought they were getting a hard-hitting defenseman when they acquired Jim Vandermeer from the Hawks on Dec. 18 in exchange for winger Ben Eager. The Flyers gave up on Vandermeer Wednesday, sending him to the Calgary Flames for a third-round draft pick. Vandermeer was minus-1 with 6 points in 28 games with the Flyers.
Tip-ins: Rockford defenseman Danny Richmond, the Buffalo Grove native, is out for the rest of the AHL season after rupturing his spleen. … The Hawks fly to Los Angeles today and will practice today and Friday in California ahead of games Saturday against the Kings and Sunday in Anaheim.