Savard calls Senators best in NHL right now

No other team in the NHL has three players in the top 10 in scoring, each with more than 40 points.

But the Ottawa Senators are more than Daniel Alfredsson, Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza in the eyes of Blackhawks coach Denis Savard.

"They're a very aggressive team," Savard said. "They forecheck hard, they backcheck hard -- they do everything hard, and everyone comes to play, not just the top three guys. They have all their players playing at the same intensity."

Alfredsson leads the Senators with 45 points, including 20 goals. Heatley has 20 goals and 43 points while Spezza has 42 points.

The Senators have won six of their last seven games, although they are coming off a 3-2 loss Thursday in Atlanta.

"The Ottawa Senators are probably the best team in the league right now and we have to be ready to play," Savard said. "It's going to be a fun challenge for us."

The Senators also rank 10th in the NHL in team defense, led by goalie Martin Gerber (16-5-1 with a .924 save percentage).

No time to rest: Don't be surprised to see Nikolai Khabibulin start both games in goal this weekend. Denis Savard said Khabibulin would start tonight in Ottawa but left Sunday's starter against Edmonton up in the air.

Normally Savard likes to give Patrick Lalime a start in back-to-back games, but Khabibulin is playing well and the Hawks need wins -- plus they get Monday and Tuesday off for Christmas.

Waiting game: The Hawks will know today if defenseman Magnus Johansson clears waivers. If he does, Johansson will report to Rockford and play this weekend. According to Denis Savard, Johansson has made no decision about his future and whether he will stay at Rockford or return to Sweden.