Wingels, Bouma take on top-six roles for Chicago Blackhawks

During the first three-fourths of the season, Tommy Wingels and Lance Bouma were nearly inseparable on the Chicago Blackhawks' fourth line.

Their enthusiasm, desire and attitude was palpable, and this energy often spreads to the rest of the team.

Now, with the Hawks facing a near insurmountable deficit in the standings, coach Joel Quenneville has decided to play his gritty wingers in a top-six role. Against Anaheim on Thursday, Wingels was with Jonathan Toews and Brandon Saad, while Lance Bouma skated with Nick Schmaltz and Patrick Kane.

"Something we've said a lot this year is we need more traffic at the net, bodies at the net," Quenneville said. "Getting into the paint is sometimes challenging and certain guys are better at it than others."

Wingels scored his seventh goal of the season Tuesday at Vegas when he tipped in an Erik Gustafsson shot while the Hawks were on the power play.

"If I can go to the net and create more space for them, it's something I look forward to doing," Wingels said. "It's an opportunity I'm very happen to be given, and I'm going to try and go out there every shift and try to earn it."

Wingels has played in 54 Stanley Cup playoff games, including 22 with San Jose in 2015-16 when the Sharks reached the Final. He could provide depth in a bottom-six role and be someone the Hawks are looking to move as the Feb. 26 trade deadline approaches.

He scores!

It took 58 games, but Duncan Keith finally registered his first goal of the season during the Hawks' 3-2 loss to Anaheim on Thursday. Keith's goal came 1:45 into the second period when his shot from just inside the blue line sailed past John Gibson to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.

Keith's previous goal came on March 16, 2017. He had taken 169 shots (including playoffs) without scoring.

"I've had lots of shots, but it was nice to see it go in, for sure," Keith said. "It would have been nice to be a part of a win. It was a nice screen by (Tommy) Wingels being in front of the net."

Berube up; Glass down:

The Blackhawks recalled goalie JF Berube from Rockford and assigned Jeff Glass to the IceHogs after Glass cleared waivers. Berube backed up Anton Forsberg during the Hawks' game against Anaheim on Thursday.

Glass, called up when Corey Crawford went on injured reserve Dec. 27, went 3-6-3 with an .898 save percentage and 3.31 goals-against average.

Crawford update:

Corey Crawford did not skate with the team Thursday morning, and there still is no timetable for the goalie's return from an upper-body injury.

Asked if the Hawks still expect Crawford back this season, coach Joel Quenneville said: "Tough to say. I mean, this year we're definitely optimistic about that. But (when) we get him on the ice consecutive days, we'll get a clearer indication."

Pokka traded:

The Hawks traded defenseman Ville Pokka to Ottawa for forward Chris DiDomenico. DiDomenico, who had 6 goals and 4 assists in 24 games with the Senators and also played 28 games in the AHL, will report to Rockford.

Pokka was part of the trade that sent Nick Leddy to the Islanders on Oct. 4, 2014.

Rutta skates:

Defenseman Jan Rutta participated in morning skate but remains on IR with an undisclosed injury. Rutta could not put a timetable on when he will return to game action.