Versteeg not worried about Coyotes seeking revenge
The last time the Blackhawks and Phoenix played each other, the game ended with Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky vowing his team wouldn't forget what happened.
Gretzky wasn't talking about the 7-1 drubbing of his club by the Hawks on Dec. 7 at the United Center. Gretzky didn't like Kris Versteeg fighting Coyotes rookie Kyle Turris in the final seconds.
Versteeg received an instigator penalty and was suspended for the Hawks' next game. Versteeg also shrugged off Gretzky accusing him of picking on the 19-year-old Turris.
"I haven't even thought about that," Versteeg said. "That was a long time ago. I can't tell you if they're over it, but I haven't even thought about it. I'm just thinking about going out and playing my game and helping the Blackhawks win."
The Hawks have shown they can handle themselves should nasty situations arise. They have accumulated 34 fighting majors in 37 games.
"We haven't even thought about (the last Phoenix game)," Duncan Keith said. "If something comes up we'll deal with it, but I think as a team we're going in just trying to get another 2 points and not worrying about anything like that."
Hawks coach Joel Quenneville didn't get drawn into a war of words with Gretzky last month and he won't now.
"We've just got to play hard and expect a hard game," Quenneville said.
On the road again: The Hawks are 5-1 in their last six road games.
"I think we're more consistent in our game," Joel Quenneville said. "We're still making headway in that we want to be predictable game in and game out. I think our road record over the last four or five games has been real consistent. That's what we're trying to install in our team with all four lines contributing home and away."
Star gazing: The Western Conference reserves for the Jan. 25 All-Star Game will be announced by the NHL on Wednesday.
With the Hawks having three starters voted in by the fans in Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Brian Campbell, it might be difficult for the league to add either Duncan Keith, Patrick Sharp or Nikolai Khabibulin.
"It would be a nice honor, but it's not something I'm losing any sleep over," Keith said.
Keith made it to the All-Star Game last year and is having another great season. Keith has 21 points and is plus-20, which is the fifth best plus-minus in the NHL.
Tip-ins: Joel Quenneville said Cristobal Huet would start in goal against Phoenix. Huet's last start was the 6-4 loss to Detroit in the Winter Classic. ... Nikolai Khabibulin's .924 save percentage has put him into the league's top ten.