Brent Seabrook's 223-game streak snapped

Brent Seabrook's 223-game iron man streak ended Saturday when the defenseman had to sit out against the Nashville Predators.

The streak was the Blackhawks' longest and the third longest among NHL defensemen.

Seabrook and Jonathan Toews didn't play because of the concussion-like symptoms they suffered on hits in Wednesday's loss to Vancouver.

Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said both players showed improvement for the third straight day Saturday and might be able to play Monday against Minnesota.

Hawks defenseman Brian Campbell appeared in his 330th consecutive game Saturday, but that streak includes time with Buffalo and San Jose. Calgary's Jay Bouwmeester has the longest consecutive games streak among defensemen at 352.

Andrew Ladd now has played the most consecutive games in a Hawks uniform at 112. Steve Larmer holds the club record of 884.

Center Jake Dowell was recalled from Rockford to take Toews' roster spot. Brent Sopel moved back into the lineup for Seabrook and skated with Duncan Keith.

Fourth and go: One thing Joel Quenneville will admit is the Hawks are missing what the fourth line gave them last season, because of the injuries to Adam Burish and Ben Eager.

"That line was a very effective line in a lot of ways, whether it was, and I don't want to use the word deterring the opposition, but it was a very hard line to play against with their speed, their tenacity, with their ability to score and how quick they were," Quenneville said.

"It was nice going into games, knowing you had some toughness and some speed. We have a little different look right now without those two guys in the lineup."

Quenneville has tinkered with his fourth line since the injuries occurred. Colin Fraser and Tomas Kopecky have been mainstays to this point.

"We're still looking for that group to give us some pace to our game and sustain it as well," Quenneville said. "I think as we go along here we'll get a good handle on it and I don't foresee it being a problem."

Predators again? When the Hawks travel to Nashville on Thursday, it will be the third game against the Predators in their first 12.

"It's a funny schedule," Patrick Sharp said. "We seem to have them once a week here for a month."

The Hawks will be done with their six games against Nashville by the end of December. By contrast, the Hawks won't play St. Louis for the first time until Dec. 16.