Power play off to empty start

WASHINGTON - The Blackhawks' power play is 0-for-8 after the first two games of the season, both losses, and looking like it's still a work in progress with Brian Campbell quarterbacking.

"It shouldn't be, when you've had eight exhibition games and all that," Campbell said after Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Capitals. "Last night (in New York), we were throwing it around like a grenade and panicking.

"You've got to make simple plays. It's not the pretty plays that score goals in this league. I don't think our entries are that bad. We've got to support each other a little better and get pucks to the net."

Kris Versteeg hit the post with the net wide open on a power play in the first period that would have given the Hawks a 3-0 lead.

"We had a chance to get it 3-0 and just didn't score," coach Denis Savard said. "We had chances. For me, after two periods we should have been 2-for-5. Our guys have to finish, that's all."

Looking good: It was interesting that on the day more Nikolai Khabibulin trade rumors were swirling, Denis Savard decided to start the veteran goalie against the Capitals.

And Khabibulin showed any teams that might be interested he could get it done with a sharp 30-save performance in the loss.

It was Khabibulin's first game since last April and he showed little rust.

"I think I could have played better," Khabibulin said. "I could have probably stopped the second goal. I wasn't really happy about that."

The second goal was Alexander Ovechkin's shot through Brian Campbell and under Khabibulin's pads.

"It was probably five percent chance to score and I scored," Ovechkin said. "It was pretty funny, but a goal is a goal and it doesn't matter how the puck goes in."

Khabibulin said he has put the events of being waived and such out of his mind.

"It's all behind so I hope it's not a distraction anymore," Khabibulin said. "It's not for me so I hope it's not for the guys."

According to an NHL source, there might be a team interested in Khabibulin if the Hawks would send him to the minors again. The club, Los Angeles, perhaps, then could claim Khabibulin on recallable waivers for half his $6.75 million salary with the Hawks obligated to pay the other half and have it count against the cap.

Playing it safe: Rookie defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson sat out with bruised ribs suffered taking a hit in Friday's opener in New York.

Hjalmarsson is day-to-day.

"It's nothing serious," Denis Savard said. "We just want to make sure he's 100 percent, and physical play would have been tough for him to get into."