Hawks won't take Edmonton lightly

BURNABY, British Columbia - The Blackhawks are coming off a bad 5-1 loss to Vancouver on Saturday, they've dropped two of their last three games, and they really haven't played as well as they had hoped to so far on this road trip.

So the Edmonton Oilers are coming along at the right time.

The Hawks will be looking to hand the Oilers their 11th straight loss Tuesday night at Rexall Place. Edmonton has won just once in its last 18 games.

"You've got to make sure you win it. We've got to win it," Patrick Kane said. "Then if we win that one we can look to a fun game (Thursday) in San Jose, where you're maybe playing for first place that game.

"But we have to take care of business first (in Edmonton), worry about that game, make sure we play hard and get back to the way we were playing."

Patrick Sharp knows the Hawks can't take the Oilers lightly despite their recent tailspin.

"We've been there before in years past and it's definitely no fun," Sharp said. "We've watched their last few games and they're not getting the results they want, but they're playing pretty hard. We have to make sure we respond after that bad performance Saturday.

"We've got to be ready to play and be respectful of what they can do," coach Joel Quenneville said. "We know they're going to be excited about playing and we have to respond."

It's Huet's net: Cristobal Huet starts in goal against the Oilers after Joel Quenneville went with Antti Niemi the last two games.

Huet did get in two periods of work in the loss to the Canucks after Niemi was pulled.

"We let Antti play back-to-back games based on how well he was playing," Quenneville said. "Huey got a chance to play last game and we look forward to him getting back in. We're comfortable with both of them."

Staying out of it: Joel Quenneville let his players do the responding to Ryan Kesler calling Andrew Ladd a coward.

"I don't get to play against him, so I don't want to comment," Quenneville said. "One thing is I know these guys are competitive and we know how to respond. I have a lot of trust and confidence in these guys."

When reporters approached Ladd after practice Monday, his teammates playfully and loudly urged him to fire back at Kesler.

"There's a lot of ways to have fun in our game," Quenneville said. "I think they're enjoying it."

Welcome sight: Dave Bolland, out since undergoing back surgery Nov. 10, rejoined the team Monday night in Edmonton and will skate with his teammates Tuesday.

It's possible Bolland can return sooner than later.

"We're looking forward to him getting on the ice and practicing and then we'll get a better idea," Joel Quenneville said. "The fact that he's coming up on this trip says hopefully he's a lot closer and can help us right from the time he gets on the ice in practice."