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Sharp-less Blackhawks host Panthers

Mar 23, 2011 - 3:42 PM (Sports Network) - The Chicago Blackhawks will continue their push to the playoffs tonight, but the defending Stanley Cup champions will have to do without their leading goal-scorer.

The Blackhawks hope they can overcome the absence of forward Patrick Sharp when they host the Florida Panthers in this evening's tilt at the United Center.

It was announced on Tuesday that Sharp, who is leading Chicago with 34 goals, will be sidelined with a left knee injury suffered Sunday in Phoenix. It's uncertain how long Sharp will be out, but Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville said he hopes the sniper can return before the end of the regular season.

The loss of Sharp could hurt Chicago's playoff chances, as the Blackhawks are currently engaged in a furious scramble for Western Conference postseason berths.

Chicago is seventh in the West with 86 points, leaving the Blackhawks just one ahead of Anaheim, Dallas and Calgary, who are all tied for the conference's final postseason berth. The Stars and Ducks are meeting in Dallas tonight, while the Flames are playing in San Jose.

The Blackhawks have won two out of three tests since a three-game slide and are coming off Sunday's win over the Coyotes. Chris Campoli scored a power- play goal in the third period to lift Chicago to a 2-1 victory at Jobing.com Arena.

Duncan Keith also lit the lamp for the Blackhawks, while Corey Crawford made 22 saves.

"It wasn't the prettiest win but we did what we had to do," Keith said. "I thought we deserved to win tonight. We had a lot of chances and the good thing is we won in regulation."

Although the Hawks lost Sharp on Sunday, they could have defenseman Brian Campbell back in the lineup tonight. Campbell, who has 25 points in 55 games this season, has sat out the last three games with a left leg injury. He is questionable for this evening's test.

The Blackhawks, who have won five in a row as the host, are playing the first of two straight on home ice tonight. Chicago is 22-14-0 as the host this year and will also welcome Anaheim in its next game this Saturday.

Florida has all but been mathematically eliminated from the Eastern Conference race, but tonight the Panthers have a chance to earn a two-game sweep over last year's Cup winners.

The Panthers notched a 3-2 regulation win over the visiting Blackhawks on March 8. Florida scored all three of its goals in the first period in that contest and Tomas Vokoun turned aside 37 shots to make the early lead stand for the win.

Florida has won two of its last three games against the Blackhawks.

The Panthers have lost two straight and three of their last four games and are coming off Tuesday's shutout loss in New York City. Henrik Lundqvist stopped all 22 shots to record the shutout for the Rangers and Brandon Dubinsky scored the lone goal in the 1-0 win at Madison Square Garden.

Tomas Vokoun was sensational in the loss, making 32 saves for Florida, which has dropped nine of its last 12 games.

"We gotta find a way to score goals," said Panthers head coach Peter DeBoer. "There aren't a lot of natural goal-scorers in [our locker room] but we gotta find a way to create two chances for every one that a goal-scorer would get. We just didn't do that."

Tuesday's test marked the start of a five-game road trip for the Panthers, who have lost three straight and five of their last six on the road. Florida is 14-19-2 as the guest this year.