Ruutu may be grabbing some bench

ST. LOUIS -- Blackhawks coach Denis Savard said Monday it would be a tough decision whom to take out of the lineup when Jason Williams was ready to play again.

Well, Savard said following Tuesday's 5-1 loss to the Blues that Williams would play tonight against Minnesota and sounded as if his decision was made easier by what he just saw.

"I have a pretty good idea what I'm going to do after this game," Savard said. "I'll look at the films again, but it won't be that tough."

It's possible Savard will sit Tuomo Ruutu, who took two poor penalties in the third period when the Hawks trailed only 2-1. The Blues scored on the power play.

Ruutu played only 12 minutes and had just 1 shot on goal. Ruutu hasn't scored a goal in 29 games dating back to Dec. 12.

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

Sounds like a plan: Win the week.

That's what 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 it.

"We have six weeks to go and if we win every week we'll end up close to 10 games over .500," Savard said. "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 but stumbled Tuesday with a 5-1 loss to the Blues.

"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."

Tonight's faceoff

Blackhawks vs. Minnesota Wild at the United Center, 7:30 p.m.

TV: None

Radio: WSCR 670-AM

The skinny: Nikolai Khabibulin is expected to start in goal after missing three games with a mild knee sprain. The Hawks haven't seen the Wild since a 5-2 loss on Nov. 11 in Chicago. The Hawks also lost 1-0 in St. Paul on opening night. While the Hawks were playing in St. Louis on Tuesday, the Wild lost to Vancouver in OT at home. The Wild is first in the Northwest Division and ranks fifth in the NHL in penalty-killing. The Hawks need a win at home before heading back on the road for weekend games in Los Angeles and Anaheim.

Player to watch: Marian Gaborik. The Minnesota winger is one of the most explosive scorers in the NHL.

Next: Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center, 3 p.m. Saturday

-- Tim Sassone