Hawks can ill afford any bad stretches

ST. LOUIS -- Win the week.

That's what Blackhawks coach Denis Savard believes his team needs to do the rest of the way to reach the playoffs.

If the Hawks play four games in a week, 3 victories would be needed to win the week.

"We have six weeks to go and if we win every week we'll end up close to 10 games over .500," said Savard. "That's what we need to do the rest of the season. That's how I'm looking at it."

The Hawks started this week on the right foot Sunday with a win over Colorado.

"That 0-8 record we had in January, we can't have another week like that or we'll be out of the playoffs," defenseman James Wisniewski said. "We have to put some streaks together and keep our bad weeks and our bad games to a minimum."

Savard is doing what he can to motivate his team up to a certain point.

"I've said to them, 'I shouldn't have to come in now and push buttons,' " Savard said. "'It's up to you guys now to get it done.' I believe in them and I think they will."

Good business: General manager Dale Tallon hopes to sign a few more of his potential restricted free agents before July 1.

So far the Hawks have extended the deals of Patrick Sharp and Brent Seabrook, both of whom would have become restricted free agents. Still to be signed are Tuomo Ruutu, Dustin Byfuglien, James Wisniewski and Rene Bourque.

"We're locking up our core players and we need to do that," Denis Savard said. "It's a great job by John (McDonough) and Dale to get that done."

Savard saw Seabrook's three-year extension worth $10.5 million as a good deal for the player and the Hawks.

"I'm very happy for him. He deserves it," Savard said. "He's a young man still that's really improved every year in the league. And he's really played strong here lately."

Decision time: As soon as Jason Williams feels OK to play, Denis Savard must figure out who sits.

"At some point I was hoping to have that problem and we are now," Savard said. "It's a tough call, but I have to find someone to sit somewhere."

The Hawks need Williams in the lineup because of his value at the left point on what is still an inconsistent power play.

There's a chance Williams could return tonight against Minnesota at the United Center.

Figure this: According to the Hawks, ticket sales are up 40 percent from a year ago at this time. They have sold out five of the last nine games with six crowds of 20,000 or more.