[clari.sports.hockey] Savard questionable for All-Star game

clarinews@clarinet.com (01/18/90)

	CHICAGO (UPI) -- Chicago Blackhawks center Denis Savard may have to
sit out the All-Star Game after spraining an ankle during Wednesday
night's 3-1 win over the Minnesota North Stars.
	Savard, selected as a reserve on the Campbell Conference squad for
Sunday's game in Pittsburgh, suffered the injury midway through the
second period and was taken to a hospital for X-rays, which turned up
negative. He said he turned his left ankle after hitting a rut on the
ice.
	Savard said he would try to play in Chicago's next game, Friday at
home against Vancouver.
	``If I can't play Friday, I'm not playing in the All-Star Game,
that's for sure,'' he said. ``The season's more important than just one
game.''
	Savard, who has played in five previous All-Star games, leads the
Blackhawks this season with 62 points, including 21 goals and a
team-high 41 assists. He needs five points to become the 27th player in
NHL history to reach the milestone mark of 1,000 career points.