Blackhawks need to feel at home again in 5-game homestand

Remember when the Blackhawks were winning with regularity at the United Center?

They do, too, and that's the feeling the Hawks hope to recapture Friday when they open a critical five-game homestand against the Edmonton Oilers.

Finishing in fourth place in the Western Conference could depend on what happens in these five games.

"We only want to think about one game and that's (tonight's) game," said coach Joel Quenneville, who has watched his team lose six of its last seven. "Hopefully we can establish that confidence that we had earlier on in the year at home and get some enthusiasm in our game. It would be nice to start the homestand in a positive way. It's a very important game for us."

Important games call for important players to step up. These five Hawks could be keys to what happens from here:

• Brian Campbell. Is there anyone among the Hawks struggling more than their highest-paid player?

Campbell was minus-2 in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime loss at Columbus and is minus-11 in the last seven games. He has been jittery with the puck and making questionable decisions on the power play.

"We've got some guys that might be squeezing their sticks a little hard," Campbell said last week.

Nobody appears to be squeezing his stick harder than Campbell, possibly feeling the stress of having to deliver on his eight-year, $56.8 million contract.

• Nikolai Khabibulin. The Hawks' MVP for most of the season, it's time for Khabibulin to get the team to the playoffs - in fourth place.

Khabibulin has been so-so in two starts since missing 14 games with a groin injury, but with Cristobal Huet struggling, Quenneville might not have a choice but to ride his No. 1 guy in the majority of games the rest of the way.

The Hawks don't play back-to-back games again until the end of the month against Montreal and St. Louis.

Huet is 2-5 in his last eight starts with a no-decision in a game that also ended up a loss.

• Patrick Kane. Only recently has Kane looked like the player he was early in the season when he was among the NHL's scoring leaders.

Kane has 4 goals and 4 assists in the last seven games and has re-energized the power play with his passing and mobility.

With Jonathan Toews playing some dominating hockey, Kane needs to be a force with his linemate down the stretch.

• Martin Havlat. In his defense, Havlat is playing hurt, but so are a lot of players around the league.

All of a sudden, Havlat has gone from being the Hawks' most dangerous offensive threat to a guy without a goal in his last six games while a minus-3.

With Dave Bolland banged up as well, that line hasn't been as effective in the last little while. Bolland's goal at Columbus was his first in eight games.

• Brent Seabrook. Slumping before Wednesday's game at Columbus, Seabrook played with some nasty against the Blue Jackets and was one of the best players on the ice.

With the Hawks missing that big, physical presence on the blue line, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Seabrook has to be that kind of guy on a regular basis from here on out - especially since he gets an average of seven more minutes of ice time than Matt Walker.

Seabrook has quietly had an excellent season playing beside Duncan Keith, but the most important games are still to come.

Blackhawks vs. Edmonton Oilers at the United Center, 7:30 p.m.

TV: Comcast SportsNet

Radio: WGN 720-AM

At a glance: Tough turnaround for the Oilers, who weren't expected to land in Chicago until 2:30 a.m., following Thursday's game in Denver. Goalie Dwayne Roloson made his 26th straight start against the Avs, which means the Hawks could see backup Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers, whose last start was Nov. 30. The Hawks lead the season series 3-0 and have outscored the Oilers 15-3.

Next: Los Angeles Kings at the United Center, 2 p.m. Sunday.