Crosby or not, bring on Pens
Before this season, it would have been awful news for a Blackhawks organization trying to fill the United Center if the Pittsburgh Penguins were coming to town and Sidney Crosby was questionable to play because of an injury.
But the Hawks don't need to sell tickets these days. They just want to win hockey games, which they will have a better chance to do tonight if Crosby sits because of a groin problem.
"I'm sure the fans are excited and hoping he's playing, but I might not have the same sentiment," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville joked Thursday. "But at the same time, he's a special player and it would be a good challenge to coach against him.
"Certainly everyone should be looking forward and hope he does plays. I don't mind if he plays."
Crosby missed Wednesday's 1-0 win over the Islanders and didn't practice Thursday.
One of the Hawks with the most experience playing against Crosby is defenseman Brian Campbell from his days with the Buffalo Sabres. And Campbell says it's one tough assignment.
"You can't go after him in a corner because he can spin so fast and get off you, therefore he gets more space because you're not going at him as hard as you would other players," Campbell said. "You've got to try to clamp down and have a good stick.
"He's different than (Alex) Ovechkin or a (Evgeni) Malkin. Crosby is really powerful and has such a low center of gravity. You can hit him and he'll get low on you, and he keeps moving his feet and he's past you. He's so powerful, he can get to the net quick."
No Khabibulin: The Hawks hoped Nikolai Khabibulin could return to practice Thursday, but it didn't happen.
Khabibulin has been sidelined since Feb. 11 with a lower body problem that's believed to be a groin.
"He was on skates a little bit (Thursday) and did some things, but we'll give him some time here," Joel Quenneville said.
Cristobal Huet starts against the Penguins tonight for the eighth straight game, but Quennevile said he was considering giving rookie Antti Niemi the start Sunday against Los Angeles.
Niemi went to play for Rockford on Wednesday and lost 2-1 to Peoria in a shootout. He was back at practice in Thursday.
Line dancing: Joel Quenneville made one line switch at practice Thursday, putting Martin Havlat with Kris Versteeg and Dustin Byfuglien. Replacing Havlat on the line with Dave Bolland and Andrew Ladd was Craig Adams.
Havlat is on a six-game points scoring streak with 3 goals and 7 assists.
Tip-ins: The Penguins shook up their roster Thursday by trading defenseman Ryan Whitney to Anaheim for winger Chris Kunitz, who will play on a line with Sidney Crosby. ... The Hawks' power play is back in a funk, going 1-for-17 in the last four games.