First-round playoff opponent still not in focus
Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville admitted a few weeks ago there probably isn't a team that wants to play Detroit next week in the first round of the playoffs.
But it's still a possibility for the Hawks no matter if they finish first or second in the Western Conference.
The Hawks are paying close attention to the standings as the season comes down to the final four days.
"You always watch and you look at potential candidates," Quenneville said. "Right now it looks like four teams are in that mix, but that picture changes every day. Who knows what it's going to look like come Sunday."
The Red Wings beat Columbus on Wednesday to vault over Los Angeles, leaving the Kings seventh and Colorado eighth.
If the playoffs started today, the Hawks - as the first seed following their 6-5 win over St. Louis - would meet the eighth-place Avalanche.
"You have to go in ready to play anybody," Kris Versteeg said. "It's going to be a tough first series no matter who you're going to play."
Hossa and Campbell: The last thing the Hawks need with the playoffs starting in a week is another injury to a key player.
Marian Hossa left Wednesday's game after one shift in the second period, but Joel Quenneville called the injury not serious.
Meanwhile, Quenneville made it sound as if defenseman Kim Johnsson won't be ready to start the playoffs.
Johnsson has been suffering from concussion-like symptoms since a March 13 collision in a game at Philadelphia.
"I can't give you a good answer right now when we'll see him back," Quenneville said.
Brian Campbell, who suffered a broken collarbone and fractured rib on March 14, has started light skating but isn't expected to return until at least the second round of the playoffs.
"The fact he's back on the ice doing light skating is encouraging," Quenneville said.
Better and better: Patrick Kane's goal totals have gone up in each of his first three years in the league.
Kane reached 30 for the first time Tuesday at Dallas after scoring 25 last season and 21 as a rookie.
"Obviously you want to get more than that, but if you look at it every year I'm getting better and getting more goals," Kane said. "Yeah, 30 is nice, it's a good accomplishment, but I don't want to stop there."
Bickell recalled: With Tomas Kopecky unable to play because of an upper body injury and Troy Brouwer still attending to a family matter, left wing Bryan Bickell was recalled from Rockford and scored a goal against the Blues.
Kopecky was hurt in Tuesday's 5-2 win at Dallas with Joel Quenneville calling it a "short-term" injury.
Tip-ins: With the Harlem Globetrotters booked to play in the United Center next Thursday, Game 1 of the playoffs for the Hawks will be either Wednesday or Friday at the UC. - Keith Tkachuk announced his retirement on Wednesday during the game with the Hawks in which he didn't play.