Winger won't see ice again due to back injury

If Friday's game had meant something for the Blackhawks in terms of the playoff race, they would have been without Dustin Byfuglien.

The Hawks shut down Byfuglien for the final two games of the season because of a bulging disc in his back, an injury that was aggravated beyond the point where he could play in Wednesday's win over Detroit.

"He can't play at all," Hawks coach Denis Savard said. "I'd like to see him get to 20 goals, but he won't be playing the last two games."

Savard doesn't believe the injury is serious enough to require surgery.

"The MRI showed nothing serious but a bulging disc," Savard said. "He'll have to get some rest here and get some treatments and hopefully calm that thing down."

Byfuglien finishes the season with 19 goals and 36 points. He scored 11 of those goals after being moved to wing.

The Hawks also shut down Dave Bolland and Brent Sopel for the season, although both would have played Friday if the game had playoff ramifications.

Bolland has been playing on a sore ankle, while Sopel has a sore ankle and wrist.

"He's just banged up everywhere," Savard said of Sopel. "He's played hard and blocked shots, so we're going to keep him out."

Winger Adam Berti was recalled from Rockford and was in the lineup against Nashville. Berti was the 18th player recalled from the minors this season.

Cooling off period: With games still to play, Denis Savard didn't want to get into specifics about what improvements general manager Dale Tallon might make for next season.

"I know Dale is not going to stay put," Savard said. "We're going to continue to improve this team. With our core guys, our young guys, it's going to be easier than it was last year. Our kids, let's face it, they brought us to where we're at."

Savard is already on record saying the Hawks need more size. And Tallon has said he hopes to add a defenseman and at least one forward via free agency.

Minor matters: The Hawks signed goalie prospect Joe Fallon, their 2005 sixth-round draft pick out of the University of Vermont.

Fallon was 63-51-17 with a 2.05 goals in his collegiate career.

Winger Akim Aliu, the 56th player taken in last June's draft by the Hawks, has signed an amateur tryout contract with Rockford to finish the season.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Aliu had 28 goals, 33 assists and 133 penalty minutes in 60 games at London in the Ontario Hockey League. He is a candidate to make the jump to the NHL next fall.