Banged-up Blackhawks get a needed one-day breather

The Blackhawks had their first off-day of training camp Monday, and it couldn't have come at a better time.

It's a banged-up group after two preseason games, both losses, with the status of forwards Kris Versteeg, Dave Bolland and Adam Burish unknown for practice today and beyond.

Bolland has been sidelined the entire camp with a lower back problem coach Joel Quenneville said wasn't a concern. The Hawks were hoping Bolland could practice today.

Versteeg suffered an upper body injury on a hit in Saturday's 3-2 loss to Washington while Burish limped off the ice during the first period of Sunday's 3-0 loss at Minnesota.

The Hawks have roster decisions to make before they depart for Europe on Friday night and the injuries to Versteeg, Bolland and Burish could complicate matters.

Quenneville hoping to take 23 to 25 players to Europe for the two exhibition games next Monday and Tuesday in Switzerland against HC Davos and ZSC Zurich.

Weekend rewind: Antti Niemi played the entire game in goal Sunday against the Wild, facing 17 shots in the 3-0 loss.

It was a chippy game with the Hawks dressing only five regulars in Andrew Ladd, Adam Burish, Brent Sopel, Niklas Hjalmarsson and Troy Brouwer.

The power play went 0-for-4 without any of the first- or second-liners.

The power play was 0-for-6 in Saturday's loss to Washington but did some good things, particularly the group of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, Brian Campbell and Brent Seabrook.

"We had a good power play going and that's the first time we worked on it all year," Joel Quenneville said.

Taking turns: Joel Quenneville hasn't made it official, but goalie Corey Crawford likely will get a full game Wednesday in Washington.