Morrison still bouncing around Blackhawks lineup

DENVER (MCT) — Brendan Morrison was traded to the Blackhawks, and then he started moving. In a week's worth of games, the veteran center has bounced from second line to fourth line and then up to the third line, and where he stops nobody knows.

"At some point, it'd be nice to get some regular linemates, but you have to figure out where you fit in," Morrison said.

"Really, I just need to play a bit. I haven't played a whole lot, even before I got dealt here. ... You get in a little better game shape, then hopefully that'll help things."

The ever-fluid lineups of Hawks coach Joel Quenneville will keep him on his skate edges, meanwhile. Morrison has no points in three games, deeming his first few outings "average," and he said teammates had prepared him for some "mix and match" under his new coach.

Continuing with the Tuesday night game against the Avalanche, it will be up to Morrison to get as comfortable as he can with whoever he can for however long they are matched up.

"It's not a huge issue," Morrison said. "In Calgary I moved around as well. You have to be able to adapt and play with different guys and at times play a little different style."

Bruno back: After initially dire forecasts about an upper-body injury sustained in Edmonton, Andrew Brunette quickly resurfaced in the Hawks' lineup Tuesday after missing just one game.

"It was a little frustrating, but starting to feel better every day," Brunette said before the game. "That's the important thing _ it got better real quick."

One-timers: Even though the natural byproduct of good play would be seizing the No. 1 goalie gig, Ray Emery predictably downplayed that idea before his start Tuesday. "That's all I think you can ever look as far as _ the next game," Emery said. "Like I said from the start, I'm happy to get in the net and have the opportunity and want to win when I get in there." ... Healthy scratches for the Hawks were Bryan Bickell, John Scott and Sami Lepisto.