Blackhawks' Hossa injured, but how badly?

The Blackhawks didn't need this as they prepare for what could be the most critical stretch of the season 10 of the next 13 games at the United Center.

Marian Hossa was injured at practice Monday and was helped from the ice, appearing to favor a leg after colliding with teammate Nick Boynton during a drill.

There was no word from the Hawks the remainder of the day regarding Hossa's condition.

Coach Joel Quenneville was not available after practice because he was in Montreal with assistant Mike Kitchen attending the funeral for Pat Burns.

Boynton told reporters neither he nor Hossa saw each other coming.

“I was facing backwards and he ran into me,” said Boynton, who only had the wind knocked out of him. “I'm not sure what happened.”

It could be something, or it could be nothing with Hossa, who missed five games a month ago with an upper body injury. The Hawks likely will have more to say about his condition at Tuesday's morning skate.

The Hawks host the St. Louis Blues at the United Center on Tuesday night looking to keep adding to the momentum gained on a 4-2 road trip that ended with impressive weekend victories at Anaheim and Los Angeles.

So far this season the road has been a much friendlier place for the Hawks than the UC, where they are a disappointing 5-7.

The Hawks kick off a four-game homestand and apparently will have Corey Crawford back in goal after his 3 road wins last week over the Canucks, Ducks and Kings.

While Quenneville hasn't formally announced Crawford as his goalie for the Blues games, Marty Turco made it seem as if the decision had been made when he spoke to the media after Monday's workout.

“Corey is going to play, I think,” Turco said. “He should. He has been playing great.

“We want to get on a roll here. I'm here to win, no matter what.”

The Hawks certainly need to put some sort of streak together.

Even though they came out of the weekend fifth in the Western Conference with 28 points just 4 behind first-place Detroit that position is deceiving in that they still have played more games than anyone in the West at 26.

The Hawks have played five fewer games than the Red Wings for whatever reason the NHL dreamed up.

This next month with a heavy home schedule, and even January when the Hawks play seven of 11 at the UC, could dictate the path they take the rest of the way. Will the Hawks be one of the teams fighting for a top-four seed or one of the clubs scrambling just to get in the playoffs?

Losing Hossa at a time when the chemistry appears to be coming together after a rough start would be an obvious setback.

The Hawks already are without winger Fernando Pisani, who missed practice Monday with the upper body injury suffered over the weekend.

Crawford has won his last four starts and all of a sudden has a sparkling 2.07 goals-against average. Turco has a 2.90 goals-against average, although he started the majority of games early when the Hawks were struggling with team defense.

&bul; Jonathan Toews is third among forwards and Duncan Keith first among defensemen after the second week of fan voting to pick the six starters for the All-Star Game. Toews trails only Sidney Crosby and Steve Stamkos.

&bul; Two Hawks prospects, Rockford center Brandon Pirri and University of Minnesota-Duluth defenseman Dylan Olsen, have been invited to Team Canada's tryout camp for the World Junior Championships.