Savard not ready to give up on Bourque

Adam Burish will skate on the first line and Rene Bourque the fourth again tonight when the Blackhawks try to end their three-game losing streak in Dallas.

This was supposed to be the other way around, but Hawks coach Denis Savard still isn't seeing what he needs to out of Bourque despite giving the 26-year-old winger chance after chance.

Bourque still doesn't have a point in seven games, with only 8 shots on goal.

"He's been given a lot of chances, and I'm going to continue to give him chances," Savard said. "I still see that game against Toronto last season. It's in him, he's just got to bring it. Until he proves to me that he's either going to be where he's at now or out of the lineup, it's as simple as that.

"Bourque is a big, strong kid, but with him it's about consistency. You'll see him some shifts."

Savard recalls the Toronto game from last December when Bourque was a physical presence.

"We give him a role, and what he needs to do to be in the lineup," Savard said. "One thing he does well is he protects pucks, but once you get position on the defender you have to take it to the net. You've got to want to do it. That's what he did against Toronto. He was physical, he took pucks to the net, and he was skating.

"He's a big, strong power forward, and he has to play like that."

Burish is more of an energy player than a power forward, but Savard sees him working well on the top line with Robert Lang and Jason Williams.

"He brings his intensity every game," Savard said of Burish. "I know he hasn't scored, but he'll be on the forecheck for those guys creating loose pucks for them, kind of like (Tuomo) Ruutu does for (Patrick) Kane and (Jonathan) Toews."

Big saves needed: Nikolai Khabibulin will be back in goal tonight after sitting out Saturday's loss to Atlanta.

Denis Savard admitted that normally Saturday's game would have been Khabibulin's to start, except that he was coming off losses to Columbus and Boston during which he wasn't on top of his game.

Khabibulin's save percentage has dipped to .899 with a record of 3-5 in eight starts.

"He had two games that for him were under par," Savard said. "But as I've said, Habby is our guy, and he'll get it done for us. He's got to battle and try to make that one more save than the other guy across from him."

Closing in: The Hawks hope they don't witness history tonight with the Stars' Mike Modano 1 point away from tying Phil Housley's record for most points (1,232) by an American-born player.

"I think he's the best American ever," San Jose's Jeremy Roenick told reporters Monday.

Hawks rookie Patrick Kane might someday approach many of Modano's records. Prior to the season, Kane spent a day with Modano and Housley in New York promoting U.S. Hockey and was in awe of Modano.

"I met him this summer, and he's really humble," Kane said. "He's just a great guy, and I had an awesome time meeting him."

Tip-ins: Denis Savard said scoreless winger Sergei Samsonov would be a healthy scratch for the second straight game. … Struggling Yanic Perreault will play wing on the third line with Patrick Sharp and Dave Bolland. … The Hawks haven't won in Dallas since March 7, 2001.

Scouting report

Blackhawks vs. Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center, 7:30 p.m.

TV: Comcast SportsNet

Radio: WSCR 670-AM

The skinny: Like the Hawks, the Stars are off to a so-so start at 5-4-2 that includes a 4-2 loss to San Jose on Monday, when they blew a lead. The Dallas line of Mike Ribeiro, Brenden Morrow and Jere Lehtinen has combined for 8 goals and 13 assists in the last six games. The Hawks beat the Stars 2-1 in overtime Oct. 13 at the United Center in their first meeting of the season.

Player to watch: Mike Modano. The future Hall of Famer has 78 points in 86 career games against the Hawks and needs 1 point to tie Phil Housley's record for most points by an American born player.

Next: St. Louis Blues at Scottrade Center, Saturday

-- Tim Sassone