Coach Q wants more start ... to finish

Usually, the atmosphere inside United Center is enough to spark a strong start.

Lately, that hasn't been the case for the Blackhawks, who have split the first four games of an eight-game homestand despite some lagging starts.

Next up is a nationally televised game Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. against the Detroit Red Wings, who will make their only regular-season trip to Chicago.

"We addressed that (at practice)," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said Tuesday. "We talked about the beginning of our last four home games here, and we want to be the ones dictating the pace and use our speed, come out quick, take advantage of the home ice and the building and the excitement here, use that to our advantage."

The Hawks' past three opponents have outshot them in the first period - in fact, the Hawks have not scored a single first-period goal since returning home a week ago. They did score the first goal against the Arizona Coyotes, Vancouver Canucks and Penguins, but couldn't hold the leads.

"We've been playing catch-up," Quenneville said. "That's something we've always been pretty consistent at, is beginnings of the game and getting off to a good start and playing the right way right off the bat. That's one of our characteristics as a team and we want to make sure we get back to that."

Seeing Detroit's winged wheel logo might help. The Red Wings won the first game between the Original Six rivals by a 4-1 score on Nov. 14 in Detroit. The Blackhawks would like to even it up.

"For myself, it was an ugly one," said forward Kris Versteeg, who posted a minus-3 rating that game. "It's definitely one I try to forget, and I think as a team we did too.

"We weren't ready for that game, and we didn't play the game we wanted to. (Wednesday), we're going to have to find the energy, which we haven't done at home, and hopefully come out with a big win."

Too early to talk trade?

The NHL trade deadline of March 2 is just 12 days away, but Quenneville thinks it's still premature to have a talk about potential trades with general manager Stan Bowman.

"Stan's around, you know, we visit here and there on different topics," Quenneville said. "He does the work, and sometimes you're a little bit more aware of what's going on, but it might be a little bit early in that department."

Asked if the Blackhawks have enough to win the Stanley Cup, Quenneville pointed to many things he likes about the roster before leaving some food for thought.

"Being satisfied?" he said. "I don't think anybody's satisfied. We've got to be better."

The pep in Hoss' step:

Marian Hossa, named the NHL's First Star of the Week on Monday for scoring 7 goals in four games, is skating more like he did at younger ages. The 36-year old Slovakian is blowing past defenders again offensively and chasing down puck-carriers more easily while backchecking.

"Right now, I definitely feel pretty good," said Hossa, who had a major back injury following the Hawks' championship season in 2013.

"I feel like I have a step (on defenders0 and I try to keep working on my speed and doing exercises away from the ice rink, in the gym, for my legs. Little things are what I've done, and it seems like it's helping."

TVR making progress:

Rookie defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk, recovering from surgery to repair a fractured kneecap, skated on his own before practice again. Quenneville noticed some improvement this time.

"He skated like he has been skating, but it looked like he's starting to progress to a level that was ... I liked him today," Quenneville said.