Hawks' fourth line getting job done
CALGARY, Alberta - On every good team there's a fourth line that contributes.
They don't get a lot of ice time, but the Blackhawks' fourth line of Colin Fraser, Ben Eager and Craig Adams has been been an integral part of the team's five-game winning streak.
Eager has 6 goals for the season while Fraser is one of the Hawks' key penalty-killers. Adams has 2 goals in the last three games.
"They've been good all year for me," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "Benny getting 6 goals already is a pretty big number for a guy who doesn't get the minutes.
"They do the right things and you're comfortable with them against anybody at any time. I think that speaks volumes when you have that kind of depth on your team."
Fraser was the third star in Tuesday's 9-2 win at Edmonton with a goal and an assist.
"They're productive and they get a lot of offensive zone time," Quenneville said. "They keep and sustain the momentum and sometimes get it back in games. We're very pleased with what they've done."
Fun and games: James Wisniewski admitted he didn't expect much from Wednesday's team outing to go curling at a nearby club.
"I wasn't too excited to do it, but I have to admit it was 10 times better than I thought it would be," Wisniewski said. "It was blast, and it got real competitive."
Not a lot of the Hawks even knew the rules of the game or how to score.
"I never curled in my life, but I had a ball," Joel Quenneville said. "I think the guys all enjoyed it."
The Hawks had a relaxed practice here Thursday with one drill calling for line rushes with no pucks, encouraging players to make fantasy plays.
"That was the best I've ever seen guys make plays, without a doubt," joked Quenneville. "The goalies made a couple big saves as well."
Point getter: With 15 points in 21 games, Cam Barker appears to have solidified his spot on a crowded defense.
"I've been getting more pucks to the net, which I have been trying to do, and playing with Soup (Brian Campbell) has been great," Barker said. "But as long as we're winning, that's all that matters, not how many points I get."
Tip-ins: Nikolai Khabibulin starts in goal tonight against the Flames, with Cristobal Huet getting the nod Saturday in Vancouver. ... Aaron Johnson, out since Nov. 26 with an upper body injury, is practicing and eligible to come off the long-term injured-reserve list the day after Christmas. ... The NHL's roster freeze goes into affect today through Dec. 27, meaning no trades can be made until after the holiday.