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Blackhawks-Kings Preview

Mar 18, 2010 - 6:47 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Chicago (44-19-6) at Los Angeles (40-23-5), 10:30 p.m. EDT

The Chicago Blackhawks have suffered three straight heart-breaking defeats but two other losses in the past two games could hurt more.

Already without Brian Campbell for at least seven weeks, the Blackhawks might not have Brent Seabrook as they try to avoid a season-high fourth consecutive loss Thursday night against the Los Angeles Kings.

Chicago (44-19-6) holds an 11-point lead in the Central Division but two of its defensemen have been on the wrong end of penalized hits in the past two games.

First, Campbell was driven into the end boards from behind by Washington star Alex Ovechkin in a 4-3 overtime defeat Sunday. The three-time All-Star, who had played 388 consecutive regular-season games, suffered a broken collarbone and rib on the play, which got Ovechkin a two-game suspension.

On Wednesday, Seabrook took a shot to the head from former teammate James Wisniewski in the second period of a 4-2 loss in Anaheim. The Olympic gold medalist, who missed two games earlier this season with concussion-like symptoms, skated off the ice with help but did not return.

"If you hit a guy without the puck, you could kill a guy," coach Joel Quenneville said . "It's the most dangerous hit in the history of the game. And (Wisniewski) tried to hurt him."

As far as Seabrook's status against the Kings, Quenneville said, "We'll see."

Chicago was already without recently-acquired defenseman Kim Johnsson (upper-body injury) on its three-game Western trip, and goaltender Cristobal Huet missed Wednesday's loss because of the flu.

For the third time in as many games, the Blackhawks gave up the winning goal in the third period or overtime. They led by one Saturday against Philadelphia before Chris Pronger scored in the waning seconds to hand Chicago a 3-2 loss. The Blackhawks then blew a three-goal lead in the third period to the Capitals.

Chicago never led against the Ducks, but missed a prime opportunity to earn at least one point by giving up the go-ahead goal with 5:36 remaining then an empty-netter.

The Blackhawks, 3-4-1 since the Olympic break and losers in all three road games, will face the team they earned their previous win against - 3-2 in overtime on March 10 at the United Center. Patrick Sharp scored on a breakaway 2:08 into the extra period, and Antti Niemi made 28 saves.

After sitting for AHL call-up Corey Crawford, Niemi will likely start as he's won both career outings against the Kings while posting a 1.97 goals-against average. Chicago is 4-0-1 versus Los Angeles (40-23-5) dating back to March 1, 2008, but 0-2-1 in its last three trips to Staples Center, including a 2-1 shootout defeat Nov. 28.

The Kings, sixth in the Western Conference and six points ahead of ninth-place Calgary, are 2-3-1 since March 3. They've also blown one-goal leads in each of their past three games, including the loss to Chicago.

Los Angeles was denied at least one point Sunday when Nashville scored twice in the final 13:25 of a 3-2 loss in the opener of a four-game homestand.

That third period was not without controversy as the Kings were also on the wrong end of a pair of goaltender interference calls.

Ryan Smyth's slight contact with Nashville's Pekka Rinne denied an apparent go-ahead goal for the Kings early in the third period. Martin Erat's bump into Los Angeles' Jonathan Quick, however, wasn't penalized, and set up the tying goal just 39 seconds after Dustin Brown put the Kings ahead.

"I've watched the replay two or three times, and it was exactly the same play," Kings coach Terry Murray, said. "At the other end, when we didn't get the call on the goal disallowed, I don't know why it was not a goal."