Hawks put in extra work with team defense in mind

As they were blowing another two-goal lead Saturday night in Phoenix en route to a shootout loss, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville decided enough was enough and let his players have it over their lack of commitment on defense.

"He came in and chewed us out," Hawks forward Andrew Ladd said after the game.

"It can happen," Quenneville said Monday, almost shrugging off his tirade.

After a day of rest, Quenneville put his words into action, spending a good deal of practice time working his players on the concept of team defense in their own end.

He's hoping that practice will make perfect heading into Tuesday night's showdown - and rematch - against the red-hot Phoenix Coyotes, who suddenly share the top spot in the Western Conference alongside the Hawks.

"(Defense) is something we're trying to stress," Quenneville said. "It has cost us some points lately. The offense will be there, but how we play in our end as a group is something we have to work on.

"That's the area we have to be better in. It's our team defense mentality."

And that means for the entire game, not just in spurts.

"We don't get at it for a full 60 minutes," forward Kris Versteeg said. "We have mental lapses a peewee player could take care of."

The Hawks desperately need a boost of any sort Tuesday as they head into the final 11 games of the regular season having dropped five of their last seven games and going up against a Coyotes team that has won nine straight.

"We've got to re-evaluate our d-zone coverage," veteran John Madden said. "We've got some new guys in the lineup. We've got to adjust what's going on right now, and at the same time we have to communicate and figure out what's going on."

The Hawks might get a huge boost in that department if, as all signs point toward, injured defenseman Brent Seabrook returns to the lineup. Seabrook, along with Brian Campbell and Kim Johnsson, has been on the shelf lately, leaving the Hawks defensive corps a bit depleted.

Seabrook, who took a vicious hit from Anaheim's James Wisniewski last week - a hit that left him dazed and resulted in an 8-game suspension for Wisniewski - skated again Monday and pronounced himself fit for the game.

"I feel good, a lot better," Seabrook said after practice. "I've been gradually feeling better, feeling less pressure.

"I want to play, but it's going to be up to Coach."

And it looks like it's a go.

"He's skated now three times and he looks fine," Quenneville said. "He looked fine. He seems ready to go.

"'Likely' would probably be the way to describe it."

Phoenix Coyotes at United CenterTime: 7:30 p.m. TuesdayTV: Comcast SportsNetRadio: WGN 720-AMWhat to watch: The Hawks will have revenge on their minds in their rematch with the Coyotes after imploding in a 5-4 shootout loss in Phoenix on Saturday. Ilya Bryzgalov is expected to be in net for the Coyotes. He stopped 34 shots against the Hawks on Saturday. Antti Niemi will be in net for the Hawks.Season series: The Hawks have lost in a shootout to Phoenix in the last two meetings and also dropped a 3-1 decision in November. Next: Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena, Thursday 6 p.m. - Mike Spellman <div class="infoBox"><h1>More Coverage</h1><div class="infoBoxContent"><div class="infoArea"><h2>Stories</h2><ul class="links"><li><a href="/story/?id=367807">Quenneville: 'Biggest game of the year' awaits Hawks<span class="date"> [3/22/10]</span></a></li></ul></div></div></div><p class="factboxheadblack">Hawks' stretch run</p><p class="News">The Blackhawks are tied with Phoenix for the Western Conference lead with 97 points after Sunday's games. Here's a glance at the final 11 games facing the Hawks:</p><p class="News">Tuesday: PHOENIX, 7:30 p.m.</p><p class="News">Thursday: at Columbus, 6 p.m.</p><p class="News">Sunday: COLUMBUS, 6 p.m.</p><p class="News">March 30: at St. Louis, 7 p.m.</p><p class="News">March 31: at Minnesota, 7 p.m.</p><p class="News">April 2: at New Jersey, 6 p.m.</p><p class="News">April 4: CALGARY, 2 p.m.</p><p class="News">April 6: at Dallas, 7:30 p.m.</p><p class="News">April 7: ST. LOUIS, 7:30 p.m.</p><p class="News">April 9: at Colorado, 8 p.m.</p><p class="News">April 11: DETROIT, TBD</p><p class="News"><i>HOME games in CAPS</i></p>