Blackhawks can't underestimate opponents on road
Take a look at some of the results from Thursday's games around the NHL and you'll see some real shockers.
Toronto over Anaheim; Winnipeg over Los Angeles; Arizona over Dallas; and Edmonton over San Jose.
That's 4 victories by teams nowhere near the postseason picture over four teams all fighting for division titles or playoff positioning.
Bottom-of-the-division teams may not look like they have much to play for, but games against the Ducks, Kings, Stars, Sharks - and Blackhawks - give players on those squads a chance to end their season on a high note.
That's something coach Joel Quenneville and Co. will keep in mind as they embark on a four-game trip that includes stops in Calgary (31-37-6), Vancouver (27-33-13) and Winnipeg (31-37-6). Taking any of those teams for granted - especially when the Hawks have lost six of seven - figure to result in an upset or two that could cost the Hawks their third-place standing in the Central Division.
"You see some of that happening because some of these players on these teams are given opportunities," Andrew Desjardins said. "They have something to prove to their organization, to their coaches. … You get a lot of these guys that are fighting for their jobs. It's that simple.
"You can never take a team lightly, especially at this point of the season."
The Hawks haven't beaten a playoff team since their 3-2 win over Washington on Feb. 28, and their lone victory in the last seven games came over the Jets.
"We have to play better hockey," Desjardins said. "We've got to look at ourselves and put ourselves in a better situation. Let's not worry about what these teams below us are doing.
"We have to worry about what we have to prove to ourselves and just get back to … that winning attitude."
Crawford update:
Corey Crawford, who hasn't played since March 14, did not travel on the Blackhawks' plane to Calgary, where the team will play Saturday. Crawford has been "day to day" with an upper-body injury, and Scott Darling has started the last four games.
Slap shots:
Patrick Kane did not practice at Johnny's IceHouse West on Friday. "He didn't get the all-star break, and we figured we'd give him some time," coach Joel Quenneville said. … Richard Panik, who has scored 2 goals in the last three games, skated on the third line with Tomas Fleischmann and Teuvo Teravainen on Friday. "He's played some good games here," Quenneville said of Panik. Dale Weise is expected to be scratched Saturday in Calgary. … Based on the defensive pairings Friday, it appears defensemen Michal Rozsival and Christian Ehrhoff will be scratched in Calgary. Viktor Svedberg, who was called up Thursday from Rockford, skated with Brent Seabrook.