Savard, Blues trade shots on definition of fair game

March 25, 2008|BY CHRIS KUC

The Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues are discovering it's never too late in the season to spark a rivalry.

Neither team was backing down Monday after Hawks coach Denis Savard said following Sunday's game that the Blues, namely Barret Jackman and David Backes, were taking "cheap shots" at some of his young players during the Hawks' 4-3 overtime victory.

"I know that being physical is part of the game," Savard said after Monday's practice at the United Center. "I understand that 100 percent. But it was after whistles. Our game doesn't need that. Let's play it whistle to whistle. That's the way it should be."

The Blues, who faded out of playoff contention while on a season-long nine-game trip that ended Sunday, had their own take.

"I appreciate and respect what Denis says," Blues coach Andy Murray said Monday. "He wants to protect his young players, but by the same token, those young players are guys that are dangerous.

"We were just trying to crowd them a little bit. I didn't have No. 19 (Jonathan Toews) and No. 88 (Patrick Kane) circled on the board. It was just, 'Let's be strong in front of our net.'

"Kane's amazingly strong on the puck for a smaller guy. Toews is just a horse out there. I think our guys were trying to do their job. I would say Denis is doing his job trying to protect his players."

Sunday's game featured several scraps after whistles, including a first-period scrum that led to a fight between Backes and Hawks rookie defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson.

"If they want to go in front of the net, it's a physical game," Jackman said. "Sorry that we hurt their feelings. [Kane and Toews] are their two best players. If they want to play in this league a long time, it's going to be a situation where they're going to have to face some adversity, and that's playing through things."

The Blues were whistled for nine penalties, but the Hawks, who had seven, couldn't capitalize on six power-play chances.

"If I was them, I'd be honored that they're getting pushed around all the time because we're focusing on them," Backes said. "We know they're key marks to their team, and we have to stop them in order to be successful."

The teams meet again Saturday night in St. Louis, and more physical play is expected.

"I think there will be some guys on the team -- maybe our tougher guys -- who will try to send a message to their better players too," Kane said.


Savard said he would make a game-time decision on whether defenseman Cam Barker, who has missed two games with a concussion, would play Wednesday night against the Blue Jackets in Columbus. ... A sore back kept center Robert Lang from practicing. He is expected to skate on his own Tuesday before traveling to Columbus. "I want to make sure he's 100 percent," Savard said. "I'm not going to play him at 85 or 90 percent."