Not-so-hot Flames added to Savard's 'playoff board'

Blackhawks coach Denis Savard has a board in his United Center office where he keeps track daily of what's happening in the Western Conference.

Savard's board isn't just for the standings. He adds teams he believes are still in contention for playoff spots and removes those he thinks are either out of the race or secure enough in their playoff positioning.

A few days ago the Calgary Flames weren't on Savard's board with their playoff chances looking solid, but they come to town today to play the Hawks losers of three of their last four.

"They're on my board now," Savard said Saturday. "I kind of put one on, take one off, put them back on, get them back off.

"I brought the players in the other day and told them to take a look, that we can do this."

Minnesota is on Savard's board as well as another team that appears to be coming back to the pack.

Savard on Saturday was contemplating removing the red-hot Colorado Avalanche from the board.

"Colorado will be coming off soon," Savard said. "They're looking good."

The Hawks can pull within 5 points of the Flames with a win. Calgary coach Mike Keenan hasn't been pleased with his team that at one time looked like a sure thing to win the Northwest Division.

"It's perplexing more than anything why a group like this has had swings all season long, and they continue to have them at the detriment of our success," Keenan told reporters after the loss in Atlanta. "It is a frustrating group to work with."

So far, so good: Another goal and an assist by Andrew Ladd in Friday's 6-3 win at Columbus gave the left winger 3 goals and 5 assists in eight games since being acquired from Carolina at the trade deadline for Tuomo Ruutu.

"I think every day I get more comfortable with the systems," Ladd said. "I'm getting used to the guys I'm playing with and getting used to the people in the room and how they play. I've made strides and it's only going to get better."

Sopel to play: Brent Sopel returns to the defense today after missing 12 games with a broken hand.

Sopel has been a key to the defense much of the season. He is plus-11 with 18 points in 50 games.

With Sopel returning, rookie Niklas Hjalmarsson will likely be the odd man out of the six-man rotation.

Tip-ins: Patrick Kane has 9 points in the last eight games and has taken a 2-point lead (61-59) on Washington's Nicklas Backstrom in the rookie scoring race … Friday was Kane's 15th multiple-point game of the season.