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Blackhawks aim to better postseason chances vs. Red Wings

Mar 28, 2011 - 3:25 PM (Sports Network) - Last year, the Blackhawks ended the Red Wings' eight-season run as Central Division champions. With the teams set to play three times over the season's final two weeks, Detroit may have a say in whether or not the defending Stanley Cup champions even make it back to the playoffs.

Clinging to the Western Conference's final postseason spot, Chicago will try to open a three-game road trip with a big victory over first-place Detroit tonight at Joe Louis Arena.

The Blackhawks finished 10 points ahead of the Red Wings in the division last year on the way to winning the Stanley Cup title, but currently sit eighth overall in the West with 88 points, just one ahead of the Flames and two up on the 10th-place Stars. Though Chicago has three games in hand over Calgary, both the 'Hawks and Dallas have eight games remaining.

The Red Wings, meanwhile, have returned to the top of the Central Division, where they have a nine-point edge over the third-place Blackhawks and are five ahead of the Predators with a game in hand.

Chicago dropped in the standings on Saturday with a 2-1 setback to the Anaheim Ducks, who moved one point ahead of the Blackhawks for the seventh spot in the conference. Marian Hossa's 22nd goal of the season came in the first period, but the Ducks eventually got a pair of tallies from Corey Perry in the third frame.

Corey Crawford made 23 saves for Chicago, which is 3-2-2 in its past seven games and 1-2-2 in its last five on the road.

"We're not out of it, but obviously it's a tough game to lose that one," Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith said. "Ever since Wednesday we were focusing on it and to lose it in the third period is frustrating."

Chicago was without forward Patrick Sharp for a second straight game due to a left knee injury and is hopeful its leading goal-scorer can return before the end of the regular season.

Hossa is one player being counted on in Sharp's absence, but the forward hasn't scored in seven straight games against the Red Wings, whom he scored 40 goals with in 2008-09 while helping them reach the Stanley Cup Finals.

Detroit would like to deal Chicago's playoff chances a blow, but will have to do so tonight without starting goaltender Jimmy Howard after he suffered an upper-body injury in Saturday's 4-2 victory over Toronto that snapped a three- game slide.

Howard made 15 saves before exiting 6:11 into the third when the Maple Leafs' Joffrey Lupul fell on top of him while scoring a goal. Joey MacDonald stopped all seven shots he faced in relief and will make his first ever start versus the Red Wings tonight with regular backup Chris Osgood on injured reserve due to a groin ailment. Howard is day-to-day after being injured on his 27th birthday, but could return Wednesday when Detroit wraps a five-game homestand versus St. Louis.

Jiri Hudler and Henrik Zetterberg both had a goal and an assist for the Red Wings, who are tied with the Sharks for second overall in the West with 97 points and a game in hand. They are 12 points back of the NHL-leading Canucks.

"It's a race right now. We need every point, every game," Hudler said.

In addition to Howard, Pavel Datsyuk is likely to miss his fifth straight game with a lower-body injury, but fellow forward Johan Franzen could suit up tonight after a four-game absences because of a groin issue.

Chicago has won consecutive 4-1 games over Detroit, including the last meeting at Joe Louis Arena on Jan. 22. Crawford made 36 saves in the Blackhawks' third straight victory in Motown and is 2-1-0 with a 1.34 goals-against average in his career versus the Red Wings.

Detroit and Chicago will close out the regular season against each other with a home-and-home set on April 8 and 10.