Blackhawks’ Havlat back on track after ankle injury

Martin Havlat has recovered from the shoulder injury that limited him to just 18 games last season. If anything else is bothering the forward now, neither he nor his play is giving it away.

“How do you know that,” he said with a laugh when asked how it feels to be pain free.

Havlat had five goals and three assists last week as he helped Chicago to three wins in four road games. In his first season with the Blackhawks, after five with Ottawa, Havlat entered the weekend as the team leader with 22 goals and 45 points in 35 games.

He got back in the lineup Dec. 9 after missing 19 games because of a high ankle sprain. Havlat is averaging 1.29 points per game, trailing only Sidney Crosby of Pittsburgh (1.66) and Calgary’s Jarome Iginla (1.36).

“Difficult two years,” Havlat said. “Last year I almost missed the whole year. I was really happy to be back for the playoffs because it’s the most fun part of hockey.

“I think the whole team started pretty well and I got hurt again for seven weeks. It’s been difficult. It’s been up and down. I’m just trying to get healthy as much as I can be, help the team on the ice. That’s all I’m trying to do.”

Chicago likely will miss the playoffs for the fourth straight season, marking the first time Havlat will be forced to watch the entire postseason.

Havlat managed only nine goals last season, breaking his streak of improving his total from the season before. He broke into the league with 19 goals in the 2000-01 season and followed that with 22, 24 and 31.

Now he’s back on track.

“I’m trying to be better every year,” the 25-year-old said. “I think I’m playing the best hockey I played in the NHL.”