Hawks batting through more injuries

Because of injuries that continue to claim key players, the challenge of staying in the thick of the playoff race in the Western Conference is getting tougher for the Blackhawks.

Already without Martin Havlat, Jason Williams, Dave Bolland, Jake Dowell, Kevyn Adams and Ben Eager, the Hawks saw defenseman James Wisniewski go down with a knee injury in Wednesday's 5-2 win over Nashville.

While Wisniewski is expected to miss 4-6 weeks, the news on defenseman Brent Sopel was more promising.

Sopel broke the middle finger on his left hand against the Predators, but the fracture isn't as serious as first thought and he might be able to play Sunday when the Hawks, who have won four straight, play the Los Angeles Kings at the United Center.

"It depends on the pain threshold and whether he can manipulate the stick or not, but my gut feeling is probably he'll play," general manager Dale Tallon said. "The injuries are frustrating because it would be nice to see what we really have, but guys are playing with a lot of character and the young guys are doing a good job."

If Sopel can't play immediately, Magnus Johansson was recalled from Rockford on Thursday and likely would jump into the lineup with Andrei Zyuzin.

But with Zyuzin and Johansson both inconsistent when they have played and Cam Barker looking shaky in his first three games since being recalled from the minors, Tallon could step up his search for a defenseman in a trade to take pressure off Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Dustin Byfuglien.

"We'll see what's out there and what people want," said Tallon, who will spend the next week mixing with general managers in Prague while he scouts the World Junior Championships.

Hawks coach Denis Savard said Keith, Seabrook and Byfuglien would be put to the test with the defense in a state of flux.

"They're going to have to play a lot of minutes, no doubt about that, especially with a lot of hockey coming, but they're young and they can handle it," Savard said.

"There's no question it's going to make it tougher, but guys just have to step up and play that much harder and that much smarter when they're out there," Keith said.

Savard isn't ready to evaluate Barker after only three games up from the minors, but the Hawks now could use him to turn it up a notch.

"First and foremost, it's difficult to make that step," Savard said. "There's a lot better players up here and it's a lot faster game. In all fairness to him, it's tough to make a judgment after three games. We'll see where he's at after seven or eight games.

"Hopefully he gets used to the speed again because it's a lot faster up here. He needs to continue to play and work in practice and get used to the beat of it."

• There's also the possibility defenseman Danny Richmond could be recalled after Rockford plays Saturday.

• Dowell, out since Nov. 28 with a broken foot, could return to the lineup Sunday against the Kings.

The center practiced Thursday on the "Badger" line with Adam Burish and Rene Bourque -- all former stars at the University of Wisconsin.

• Not only is Havlat another week to 10 days away from returning from his groin injury, Tallon said Williams could be back at the same time.

Williams, who has missed 16 of the last 17 games with a groin injury, is skating on his own.

"He'll do that for a few more days and we'll see where he's at," Savard said.