Season's biggest test is here

The part of the schedule the Blackhawks have been anticipating for months is here.

With Thursday's 5-2 win over the Bruins in Boston, the Hawks kicked off a stretch of 10 of 12 on the road. Lurking ahead starting next week is the eight-game, 15-day road trip that will take them from coast to coast.

The Hawks have the best record in the NHL at home (20-4-1).

"We took care of business at home and now we have to prove we can be successful on the road," goalie Cristobal Huet said. "We have a pretty good away record, but we can make a statement that we're a full package and that we can win on the road. It's going to be a very good test for us."

Coach Joel Quenneville won't get as many favorable matchups on the road since the home team has the last player change, but the Hawks' depth at forward should help make up for that.

"We've obviously proven ourselves at home this year, but the road presents a whole new challenge," winger Patrick Kane said. "But at the same time it's going to be tough for teams to match up against this team. We have so many players that can make plays and create plays that it's tough to match up against just one line. The balance of this team just works to our advantage so much."

The Hawks have been getting offensive production out of all four lines in the last several weeks.

"The consistency in our lines and the balance in our lineup right now is a big factor in our success," Quenneville said. "It's been a nice stretch of games where our offense has answered that stretch where we were very short of goals."

Chemistry test: Marian Hossa appears to have found chemistry with linemates Patrick Sharp and Andrew Ladd.

But even before his 4 goals in the last three games, Joel Quenneville thought Hossa was beginning to play at a top level.

"We've seen some finish to his game, but I still like his overall game," Quenneville said. "He contributes in so many different ways with little things, how he comes up with loose pucks, protects it, his size, his backside pressure, his defensive responsibility. We feel he's really upgraded our team."

Let's go streaking: Patrick Kane extended his points scoring streak to 10 games with a goal in Thursday's win.

"It's nice going on little streaks," Kane said. "I've had a couple this year. It's nice producing every game and I'm trying to be consistent."

The longest points streak in the NHL this season is 19 games by Anaheim's Corey Perry.

"I'm still a little ways away," Kane said.

Playing it safe: Defenseman Cam Barker made the trip but sat out again with an upper body injury. There's a chance Barker could return Saturday at Minnesota.