Sharp, Ladd get Hossa's point

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Patrick Sharp understands the responsibility that goes with centering a line for a premier goal scorer such as Marian Hossa and is getting more and more comfortable in the role.

Sharp now has a better idea of where Hossa likes to get the puck.

"That was something we struggled with early on," Sharp said of himself and linemates Hossa and Andrew Ladd. "Maybe all three of us were shooting the puck a little bit too much. It's never a bad play to shoot the puck, but when you got a guy out there like Hoss who wants the shot you kind of defer to him.

"Laddy and I have done a better job of finding the seams and where he is in the high slot there. We've played better the last seven to days or so and we're more comfortable with each other."

It was Hossa who approached Sharp and Ladd a few weeks ago to talk about how the line could be more productive.

"It wasn't anything major, just little things out there, more tendencies of how he likes to play in the offensive zone," Sharp said. "Give him credit. He's the guy that initiated that conversation. He talked to Laddy individually and talked to me. Since then we've had a little chemistry and hopefully we can keep it going.

"Any time you get three guys on the same page willing to talk to each other and feel out the problems, it's a good thing."

Sharp still considers himself a goal scorer and isn't about to start thinking strictly as a playmaker.

"I'm still going to shoot whenever I have the opportunity," Sharp said. "When you start thinking about passing only that's when things don't happen, and when you think about shooting only, the same thing applies. You want to take the opportunities as they come."

Still hurting: Defenseman Cam Barker took part in Saturday's morning skate but missed his third straight game with an upper body injury.

Barker is doubtful for tonight's game against Anaheim as well.

"We'll see if I can skate again (today) and see how it is," Barker said. "You never want to watch games. You want to be out there with your teammates and your buddies, but it's part of the game."

Jordan Hendry filled in again against the Wild and has impressed coach Joel Quenneville.

"Jordan has played very well," Quenneville said. "We like his mobility and his quickness back there. His speed either going back to retrieve pucks or eluding puck pressure from them, he adds something back there and adds to our overall team speed."

Ducks warned: The Hawks face an Anaheim Ducks team tonight that needs to start making a move in the Western Conference if it hopes to make the playoffs.

Ducks general manager Bob Murray held a rare meeting with his players this week to let them know if things didn't turn around there would be changes made before the March 3 trade deadline.

"He wanted to make sure everyon knows what's going on here," Ducks winger Teemu Selanne told the Orange County Register. "If things don't work out there are going to be changes. It's up to us. He pretty much gave us the ball."

Selanne and defenseman Scott Niedermayer are two players who could be available at the deadline if the Ducks don't get back in the playoff race soon. They entered the weekend 10 points out of a playoff spot.