Fresh start for Blackhawks

ST. LOUIS - Judging from the look of Joel Quenneville's first practice Friday, the new Blackhawks coach won't try to introduce too many fresh wrinkles right away, not with games to play tonight against the Blues and Sunday night against Vancouver.

It was a high-tempo practice with quicker breakouts and an emphasis on getting shots at the net.

"I think he wants us to believe in ourselves and play with instincts and just go out and have fun," Patrick Sharp said. "As the season goes on, there will be a little more teaching and implementing some things he wants to do, and we'll go from there.

"He mentioned a few times he doesn't want us thinking too hard (tonight), to just play off instincts. As long as you do things hard and fast, we should be OK."

With the shock of Denis Savard's firing Thursday subsided for the most part among the players, it was a time to look ahead Friday, which was part of Quenneville's pre-practice message.

"It was a fun practice," Adam Burish said. "He told us this is a fresh start for everybody, and when you have that kind of opportunity, it gives everyone a little bit of life and a little bit of energy."

One thing Quenneville is certain to key on in the coming days is improving the team's overall defensive play.

"Every coach has different schemes in how they play different areas," Brian Campbell said. "Some are similar, but there are a few different things with Joel and how he wants to play in our end.

"He tried to teach as much as he can and go over things as quickly as he can, but obviously it's not going to happen in one day."

It's a tough spot for Quenneville just four games into the season. While there are new things he wants to do, the important thing now is to win games, with a good start for the Hawks imperative to making the playoffs.

"We don't want to change too many things with our game," Quenneville said. "Technically we talked about some things we want to look at, but we just want to make sure that we do things quickly, with a little more urgency and a little more repetition in practice so we can take our practice habits and our speed of practice into games. We want to move the puck quicker and get on people quicker."

Quenneville kept the forward lines mostly intact, putting Andrew Ladd with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane and leaving the second line of Sharp, Martin Havlat and Dustin Byfuglien as Savard had it.

Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook skated together on defense, with Campbell paired with Aaron Johnson, and Brent Sopel with Jordan Hendry.

Quenneville said Nikolai Khabibulin would start in goal against the Blues but stopped right there when asked about the messy goaltending situation involving Khabibulin and Cristobal Huet.

"I think we're fortunate to have two solid goaltenders here, and it's nice when we have tough decisions," Quenneville said. "I welcome that, but right now there's no commitment one way or another. We'll let it evolve as we go."

Overall, Quenneville likes a lot of what he sees.

"I think you've got some good assets here," Quenneville said. "You've got some high-end skill level and you've got some young kids with a lot of energy.

"I think there's room to grow in their individual skills and our team game. It's exciting to me to walk into a team that's got so much youth and skill and ability that we're looking to mold and improve as we go along here."

Tonight's faceoff

Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues at Scottrade Center, 7:30 p.m.

TV: Comcast SportsNet

Radio: WGN 720-AM

At a glance: The Blues are off a 3-1 start with 5 goals already for 37-year-old Keith Tkachuk. Their power play ranks first in the NHL at 9-for-18. Four of Tkachuk's goals are on the power play.

Next: Vancouver Canucks at the United Center, Sunday 6 p.m.

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=243619">Hawks sad about Savard, but optimistic<span class="date">[10/18/08]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=243631">Trio grateful for Savard's guidance <span class="date">[10/18/08]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>