Despite losses, Savard likes what he's seeing from Hawks

If anything, losing to the defending Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks on Friday was a moral victory for the Blackhawks.

Certainly coach Denis Savard would rather have had the 2 points in the standings, but what the Hawks' 5-3 loss to the Ducks reinforced was that they can compete with the best teams the NHL has to offer.

"That's a much different team over there this year than we've seen over the last two years in Chicago," said Anaheim defenseman Mathieu Schneider, who got a lot of looks at the Hawks while playing for Detroit previously. "That's a very aggressive team with just some incredible offensive talent. You're going to see great things from them in the future."

Hawks defenseman Duncan Keith was encouraged Friday's performance, especially as it compared to Wednesday's lackluster 3-2 loss at the United Center to Vancouver.

"They've got a lot of great players on their team like (defenseman Chris) Pronger, and especially for our forwards to play against their defense like him and to see how they do," Keith said. "It definitely gives us some positive things to look at that we were right there with them.

"We know that we have a lot of room to improve here, but the season is still only 28 games in and we know there's a lot of season left. We're going to try to improve on a lot of things to that come game 60 or 70 we know we're in a playoff race."

The Hawks have lost three games in a row and five of their last seven, but they don't feel as if they are in a slump.

"We know we didn't play our best against St. Louis or Vancouver, and we had to change a few things," said Jonathan Toews. "We're going to keep chipping away and try to find solutions. That's all you can do in this business, just keep working at it, keep our heads up and keep going."

Savard liked the intensity of his team against the Ducks after the losses to the Canucks and Blues in which the Hawks started slowly and paid for it later.

"This is how we have to play every night," Savard said. "It's not going to get any easier. For us to get out of this, we're going to have to have the same type of intensity and the same type of effort.

"It's the consistency we're looking for. I'm not worried because I know they bring it and they work. If we continue to do that, continue to have the same attitude and the same will, we'll be fine."

The Hawks still have an opportunity to make this a great month with seven more home games compared to only two on the road. The Calgary Flames are at the UC Saturday night.

"We're not playing bad, but we know we can play better," Toews said.

Scouting report

Blackhawks vs. Calgary Flames at the United Center, 6 p.m. Saturday

TV: Comcast SportsNet

Radio: WSCR 670-AM

The skinny: The Hawks have lost three games in a row and five of seven but face a Flames team that also is struggling. Calgary has lost five of its last six and now must play the next six games on the road. Flames defenseman Robyn Regehr is questionable with a bone bruise to his foot suffered in Thursday's 3-2 loss in overtime to Pittsburgh. The Hawks lead the season series 1-0, winning 2-1 in Calgary on Nov. 22 thanks to short-handed goals from Jake Dowell and Patrick Sharp.

Player to watch: Jarome Iginla. The Flames' star is on pace for a 45-goal, 107-point season.

Next game: Wednesday vs. the Los Angeles Kings at the United Center, 7:30 p.m.

-Tim Sassone