Savard promises battle to the end

The Blackhawks are running out of time, and they know it.

With only 11 games to play and the Hawks in the midst of a four-game losing streak, the math doesn't work in their favor in their quest to grab the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

"It's gut-check time now for the coaches and the players," Hawks coach Denis Savard said Thursday. "I make you guys a promise, that they're going to keep coming. I know our players are not giving up. Their character is going to come out because we have it. They're going to battle right to the end."

It won't be the end if the Hawks don't win tonight in Columbus, but a fifth straight defeat would be damaging to their playoff hopes.

"We just have to give it everything we've got," Duncan Keith said. "We need to have a good start."

The Hawks know they have a difficult task ahead of them, one that might require winning nine or 10 of the final 11 games.

"It's definitely in our heads; I'm not going to lie to you, but we can't worry about what other teams are doing," Patrick Kane said "The last two efforts haven't been good enough."

Lalime honored: Goalie Patrick Lalime has been nominated for the Masterton Trophy by the Chicago chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Each chapter nominates the player it believes demonstrates sportsmanship, dedication and perseverance to the sport.

Since 2006, the 33-year-old Lalime has battled back from surgery for a torn ACL in his knee, back surgery and a trip to the minors while with the St. Louis Blues. He has rebounded this season to be one of the Hawks' most valuable players with a 14-11-2 record and 2.80 goals-against average.

"He's a survivor," Denis Savard said. "Two or three years ago a lot of people thought his career was over."

Lalime didn't think that way.

"Honestly, I didn't think that," Lalime said. "But I knew it would be a lot of work to get back. Everything is good now. Getting the chance to work hard, play again and have fun, it's been good."

Tip-ins: Yanic Perreault returns tonight after missing 16 games with a fractured wrist. He replaces Kevyn Adams, who will be rested. … Nikolai Khabibulin (back spasms) and Brent Sopel (broken hand) went through the full practice Thursday and could return to the lineup Sunday against Calgary.