Trade rumors continue to swirl around the Colorado Avalanche but defenseman Rob Blake isn't paying attention.

It has been reported the Avalanche has offered forward Alex Tanguay and defenseman Martin Skoula to the Boston Bruins for forward Martin Lapointe and holdout defenseman Kyle McLaren.

"If they are going to make a trade, you never hear it in the paper," Blake said. "Some reporters start whispering and try to throw things off in the room and they can do whatever they want.

"The guys in the room understand that the way this organization works, if you read it in the paper, it's like, 'Uh-uh.' "

Tanguay, who has gone six games without a point, and Lapointe admit it is unsettling to hear reports they might be traded.

"It's tough to play when you always have that thing (trade rumors) in the back of your mind," Tanguay said. "It's up to me to make sure I play a little better and try to help the team. It's what I can control."

Lapointe has been out since Oct. 17 because of a broken foot but hopes to return to the Boston lineup tonight against Calgary.

"Obviously, it's not fun to see the rumors," Lapointe told Boston reporters. "I've got a family and all of that. But it's part of hockey. You read that players are leaving or coming and that's part of my life. I chose to be a hockey player and that comes with the territory.

"I've got good support at home and it's stuff that you can't control. You control only one thing and that's the way you go out there and work hard. That (trade) stuff, you can't control and there's no use worrying about it. It's going to drive you nuts."

Lapointe, who signed a four-year, $20 million-plus contract last year, said no one in the Bruins organization expressed displeasure with his game.

"They've said all along, 'Keep doing what you're doing. You're a big part of this team,' " Lapointe said.

Avalanche coach Bob Hartley brushed off the rumors Monday.

"Trade rumors are part of our daily business as you guys are part of our daily business," he said. "That's the way it is. You just have to get over it and play the games."

SAVING THE SHUTOUT: David Aebischer was 50 seconds away from his sixth career shutout Monday night but the puck was lying on the ice just outside the crease.

Aebischer, who made 26 saves in the game, dove and smothered the puck just before Chicago's Eric Daze could take a poke at it and went on to notch his first shutout on home ice.

"I tried to play it real aggressive," Aebischer said. "I just bobbled the puck a little. It took a funny bounce off my chest. It went there. I just reacted.

"I felt pretty good. I had a feeling I might have a pretty good game. I had a couple pretty good saves in the first period that were important."

It was the second consecutive win for Aebischer, now 2-5-0, and swelled his streak without allowing a goal to 86 minutes, 53 seconds.

The shutout marked another good defensive effort for Colorado, which has allowed two goals in the past three games.

"Our game is coming," Hartley said. "We're seeing signs that our confidence is growing and our decision-making is much better. It was a big win for David and a big win for us."

PRACTICE TIME: Theo Fleury, suspended by the NHL on Oct. 8 for violating his aftercare program, has been cleared to resume practicing with the Blackhawks.

Fleury, who played 33 games with the Avalanche at the end of the 1998-99 season, has not been allowed to work out or practice with the team since he was suspended. He will join the Blackhawks in Phoenix today.

No specific date has been set for his return to the lineup.

Trade rumors continue to swirl around the Colorado Avalanche but defenseman Rob Blake isn't paying attention.

It has been reported the Avalanche has offered forward Alex Tanguay and defenseman Martin Skoula to the Boston Bruins for forward Martin Lapointe and holdout defenseman Kyle McLaren.

"If they are going to make a trade, you never hear it in the paper," Blake said. "Some reporters start whispering and try to throw things off in the room and they can do whatever they want.

"The guys in the room understand that the way this organization works, if you read it in the paper, it's like, 'Uh-uh.' "

Tanguay, who has gone six games without a point, and Lapointe admit it is unsettling to hear reports they might be traded.

"It's tough to play when you always have that thing (trade rumors) in the back of your mind," Tanguay said. "It's up to me to make sure I play a little better and try to help the team. It's what I can control."

Lapointe has been out since Oct. 17 because of a broken foot but hopes to return to the Boston lineup tonight against Calgary.

"Obviously, it's not fun to see the rumors," Lapointe told Boston reporters. "I've got a family and all of that. But it's part of hockey. You read that players are leaving or coming and that's part of my life. I chose to be a hockey player and that comes with the territory.

"I've got good support at home and it's stuff that you can't control. You control only one thing and that's the way you go out there and work hard. That (trade) stuff, you can't control and there's no use worrying about it. It's going to drive you nuts."

Lapointe, who signed a four-year, $20 million-plus contract last year, said no one in the Bruins organization expressed displeasure with his game.

"They've said all along, 'Keep doing what you're doing. You're a big part of this team,' " Lapointe said.

Avalanche coach Bob Hartley brushed off the rumors Monday.

"Trade rumors are part of our daily business as you guys are part of our daily business," he said. "That's the way it is. You just have to get over it and play the games."

SAVING THE SHUTOUT: David Aebischer was 50 seconds away from his sixth career shutout Monday night but the puck was lying on the ice just outside the crease.

Aebischer, who made 26 saves in the game, dove and smothered the puck just before Chicago's Eric Daze could take a poke at it and went on to notch his first shutout on home ice.

"I tried to play it real aggressive," Aebischer said. "I just bobbled the puck a little. It took a funny bounce off my chest. It went there. I just reacted.

"I felt pretty good. I had a feeling I might have a pretty good game. I had a couple pretty good saves in the first period that were important."

It was the second consecutive win for Aebischer, now 2-5-0, and swelled his streak without allowing a goal to 86 minutes, 53 seconds.

The shutout marked another good defensive effort for Colorado, which has allowed two goals in the past three games.

"Our game is coming," Hartley said. "We're seeing signs that our confidence is growing and our decision-making is much better. It was a big win for David and a big win for us."

PRACTICE TIME: Theo Fleury, suspended by the NHL on Oct. 8 for violating his aftercare program, has been cleared to resume practicing with the Blackhawks.

Fleury, who played 33 games with the Avalanche at the end of the 1998-99 season, has not been allowed to work out or practice with the team since he was suspended. He will join the Blackhawks in Phoenix today.

No specific date has been set for his return to the lineup.