Rough patch might smooth things out for Hawks
It could turn out the tough times the Blackhawks have experienced are the best thing to happen to them.
For so long the Hawks were locked into fourth place in the Western Conference, unable to move up and their closest pursuers 6 to 9 points behind them.
Finally being involved in the playoff race for positioning has forced the Hawks to crank up their game to postseason levels.
"I think it's good for our hockey club that you're not running away with something and you have to keep playing right to the end," defenseman Brian Campbell. "I think it gets you into a mode, especially this team with a lot of guys never playing in the playoffs. It gets you into an atmosphere of what it takes.
"There are teams battling the last 15 or 20 games here to get into the playoffs and working hard every night, and I don't think we were there. Now I think we're getting towards where we need to be."
Hawks coach Joel Quenneville admitted being involved in a playoff scramble has been good for his team.
"It's a young team and not a lot of guys have been through this process of being in a stretch run and playoff hockey," Quenneville said. "Preparation is very important and quality starts is part of the learning curve.
"We still want to make sure we're playing our best hockey at the end of the year here."
Havlat talks: General manager Dale Tallon said contract talks with Martin Havlat were ongoing and that there was no deadline to conclude them before the playoffs.
A possible sticking point is the money Havlat would start earning in the second year of the deal. It's after next season that Tallon will face the challenge of re-signing Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith.
Even if the Hawks front-load a deal with Havlat, the salary cap hit still would be the average money over the length of the contract.
Some believe the NHL's salary cap could drop as low as $49 million from its present $56.7 million for the 2010-11 season.
Step right up: Single-game tickets for the first two rounds of the playoffs go on sale Tuesday at 10 a.m., at the United Center box office, the Blackhawks store (333 N. Michigan Ave.), any Ticketmaster outlet, ticketmaster.com or by calling 312-559-1212.
No more than four tickets for any one game can be purchased, with customers limited to eight tickets total. Refunds for any games not played will be available at the point of purchase.
Tip-ins: With Cam Barker returning after a one-game absence, Jordan Hendry was returned to Rockford following Wednesday's morning skate. - Jeremy Roenick was back in the San Jose lineup after missing 11 games with a shoulder injury. - Before meeting the Hawks on Sunday, Vancouver plays at St. Louis on Thursday night and at Colorado on Friday.