Healthy Havlat delivering big time
TAMPA, Fla. - This is the Martin Havlat the Blackhawks have been waiting to see ever since they acquired him three seasons ago and gave him a three-year, $18 million contract.
Havlat is averaging almost a point a game in his first healthy season with the Hawks. The next game he plays, Thursday at Florida, will be his 56th of the season, equaling his total from 2006-07 - the most he has played since coming to the Hawks.
Havlat's 2 assists in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Lightning gave him 47 points in 55 games.
"He's been very productive and very consistent in his game," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "Production wise, and his play without the puck, has been very consistent."
Havlat is making plays he didn't make last season when he battled shoulder problems that limited him to 35 games. He beat several Lightning defenders behind the net to set up Dave Bolland's game-winning goal with 7:14 to play.
"I think he sees plays, and guys that have that skill level have real good patience in tight areas," Quenneville said. "Their play selection is high end and they see more options than the one obvious one. I think that's one of his strengths. He has a tricky shot and he sees those plays."
Sharp update: The Hawks have decided against putting Patrick Sharp on long-term injured reserve, at least for now, in hopes he can return from his left-knee injury sooner than later.
A stint on long-term IR means a minimum of 10 games missed, which would have put Sharp's return at March 11 against Carolina.
Joel Quenneville said Tuesday that Sharp would miss a minimum of three weeks, which could have him ready one or two games sooner than March 11.
Quenneville elected not to reveal the results of Sharp's Monday MRI.
"It's at least three weeks and we'll go from there," Quenneville said.
One vs. one: Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos, the first player taken in the 2008 draft, is not going to win the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year as 2007 top pick Patrick Kane did.
Stamkos had been having a difficult season with 7 goals and 15 assists before getting 3 against the Hawks.
"I know about him a little bit, played against him in the OHL," Kane said. "It kind of shows how tough it is to come in right away and play right away. He had a great game tonight."
Lightning strikes: Only Tampa Bay management really knows if star center Vincent Lecavalier is available in a trade (likely not), but the Lightning definitely is in the selling mode approaching the March 4 deadline.
Believed to be available are wingers Gary Roberts and Mark Recchi, centers Vaclav Prospal and Jeff Halpern and defenseman Marek Malik.