Red Wings respect Hawks' turnaround
DETROIT -- Red Wings coach Mike Babcock says it's good for the NHL that the Blackhawks are a competitive team again.
But Babcock might be wishing things were back to the way there were if his Red Wings lose to the Hawks again tonight at Joe Louis Arena.
After years of getting their heads mostly beat in by Detroit, the Hawks have won the first three games of this season from their Central Division rivals -- albeit each time by 1 goal.
"We've lost three to Chicago and you have pride and you want to make a statement," said Detroit center Kris Draper. "Those guys have kind of said, 'We're for real.' They have great young players. It's something we certainly realize and we respect them."
Red Wings defenseman Brett Lebda, a Buffalo Grove native, compared Hawks rookies Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane to Detroit stars Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg.
"Those are the guys we're going to key on," Lebda said. "They're Pav and Hank. I mean, I don't think they're near their level, but they could be someday."
It's probably a good time for the Hawks to play the Red Wings again, considering they are coming off losses at Columbus and Nashville. The Hawks always seem to get up for the Red Wings.
"Do we get up? Of course -- they're the best team in the league right now," said Hawks coach Denis Savard. "It probably is a good time to play them."
Nikolai Khabibulin starts in goal, looking to beat Detroit for the fourth time this season.
"We've had great goaltending against them," Savard said. "You've got to have that to win games."
Havlat return set? The Hawks are hoping winger Martin Havlat can return to the lineup Thursday at Calgary.
Havlat hurt his right shoulder on opening night and has been rehabbing on the ice for the last several weeks.
"I would expect him to play at Calgary, but that will be up to him," Denis Savard said.
When Havlat returns he will play right wing on the top line with Robert Lang and Jason Williams.
Wait and see: Defenseman Brent Sopel, who has missed the last two games with the flu, will rejoin the team today after resting in Chicago for two days and might play against the Red Wings.
"He's feeling better and we'll see how he is (today)," Denis Savard said. "I'd like to play him. It would have been nice to have him (Thursday at Nashville). He calms things down a bit."
Savard said Jason Williams has a tender groin and is questionable for tonight. Williams didn't practice Wednesday. Neither did Robert Lang, who simply was resting.
Surgery set: Center Kevyn Adams will have surgery Monday morning on his left knee to repair torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments.
Adams was hurt Nov. 7 against Columbus and likely will miss the rest of the regular season.