Khabibulin may be back on ice by next week
ANAHEIM, Calif. - The news on Nikolai Khabibulin was encouraging Friday.
In fact, the veteran goaltender could be back in the Blackhawks' lineup at some point next week.
After today's game in Los Angeles, the Hawks don't play again until Wednesday against Anaheim at the United Center.
In addition to suffering a lower-body problem Wednesday against San Jose, Khabibulin also experienced cramping from dehydration. HP Pavilion is widely considered by players as the hottest building in the NHL.
"We're going to say day-to-day right now," coach Joel Quenneville said. "I think he's not as serious as maybe it looked. Hopefully it will be short term."
Cristobal Huet started Friday against the Ducks and played well in the Hawks' 1-0 loss at the Honda Center.
"He gave us a chance and did what he had to do," Quenneville said.
Huet will start again today against the Kings. "I think we're comfortable with him in every situation," Quenneville said.
The Ducks' goal by Ryan Getzlaf late in the second period came off a scrambled play that resulted from a Colin Fraser turnover.
"It was a big mess in there so I just swung at it, lifted it up and put it in," Getzlaf said.
"I'm a little mad at myself, but it happens and Getzlaf is a good player," Huet said. "Of course, I would have liked to help my team, but after that goal I tried to keep my team in the game and give us a chance to tie and eventually win it, but it didn't happen."
Johnson out indefinitely: The Hawks put defenseman Aaron Johnson on the long-term injured reserve list Friday with his upper body injury.
Long-term IR means Johnson must miss at least 10 games or 28 days. Putting him there afforded the Hawks salary cap relief from his $514,000 hit to recall goalie Corey Crawford from Rockford. The earliest Johnson could return is Dec. 20 at Vancouver. If Johnson misses 28 days he couldn't play again until Dec. 26 against Philadelphia.
Message received: In the three games since Joel Quenneville benched Patrick Sharp, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith at Dallas for taking bad penalties, the Hawks have committed just 7 minors. They had 1 in the loss to Anaheim, Brent Sopoel for high-sticking in the second period.
"I like the trend recently," Quenneville said.
Tip-ins: Dustin Byfuglien returned after missing three games with an upper body injury, but Adam Burish sat out for the second game in a row after getting hit on the foot by a slot in practice last Tuesday ... The Hawks will stay over in Los Angeles tonight and have their annual rookie dinner, where Versteeg, Troy Brouwer, Colin Fraser and Corey Crawford pick up the tab.
Consider it bad timing for Crawford, just up from the minors.