Not-so-special debut for Pahlsson

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Consider it a so-so Blackhawks debut for Sammy Pahlsson.

Playing for the first time since being acquired from Anaheim at the trade deadline, and in his first game since Jan. 31 because of a bout with mononucleosis, Pahlsson was minus-1 and lost 6 of 11 faceoffs with 3 hits in the Hawks' 4-3 overtime loss to the Blue Jackets.

Pahlsson lost a draw to Mike Peca that resulted in Derek Dorsett's second-period goal to put Columbus ahead 2-1.

"It was nice to finally get in a game, but it was too bad we lost," Pahlsson said.

It was clear on several shifts that Pahlsson still is not in the greatest game shape despite skating for the last week.

"It's not terrible, but you still have to get in game shape no matter how much you skate or how much you ride the bike," said Pahlsson, who played 15 minutes. "It's always different when you get out there and the timing isn't really there, but I'll work on it and try to get better quick."

Home vs. road: The Hawks open a five-game homestand Friday against Edmonton looking to snap out of their 1-3 funk at the United Center.

It was last week when Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock said the Hawks played different hockey at home compared to the road.

"A lot of teams I've been on tend to do that at parts of the season," defenseman Brian Campbell said. "At home, sometimes you try to showcase your talents and try to do too much and make these special plays that aren't there or that you may see that aren't there.

"On the road you've got to muck it up and grind it out to win. You don't want your game to change whether you're at home or on the road, but sometimes it does."

Smash-mouth hockey: Just two days after undergoing a root canal and having three chipped teeth repaired, Patrick Kane got smacked in the mouth by Columbus defenseman Fedor Tyutin at 5:02 of the first period.

Kane had another visit to the dentist already planned for Thursday to finish the repairs from his collision with teammate Jonathan Toews last Friday.

"I had some nice teeth, you know?" Kane said. "I wish I still had them."

Tip-ins: With Sammy Pahlsson coming off injured reserve, Pascal Pelletier was assigned to Rockford. - The undisclosed injury Cam Barker suffered Wednesday should pave the way for Aaron Johnson returning to the lineup Friday against Edmonton.