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Chicago Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane talks Friday about possibly resting before the playoffs, winning the Presidents' Trophy, the race for the No. 8 seed and getting Dave Bolland healthy.

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Blackhawks recalled defenseman Ryan Stanton and eight other players from the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL on Friday.

The 23-year-old Stanton had three goals, 22 assists and a plus-16 rating in 73 games with the IceHogs this season. He was named the IceHogs' best defenseman. He has not appeared in an NHL game.

Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville believes Stanton earned a chance with the team based on his season in Rockford. Quenneville is uncertain if Stanton will play Friday against the Calgary Flames, but he expects him in the lineup for Saturday's game against the St. Louis Blues.

"I thought he had an excellent start to the season," Quenneville said. "We got to see him play a number of games down there. His consistency, his positioning, effectiveness of how he defended his gap, very efficient in his own end. I thought offensively he complemented the team game with first-pass crispness. I just think overall he really evolved over the last year."

The Hawks also recalled forwards Jimmy Hayes, Jeremy Morin, Brandon Pirri and Ben Smith, defensemen Adam Clendening, Shawn Lalonde and Steve Montador, and goaltender Henrik Karlsson.

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It takes more than a glance at the NHL’s points leaders to decide who deserves the league’s top awards. Neil Greenberg dives into the stats to show why John Tavares of the New York Islanders deserves the Hart Trophy as the league’s MVP. Plus, other top award candidates.

Read the entire story here.

The Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings just may have not seen the last of each other in the Western Conference.

The Red Wings moved back into the playoffs and into the No. 8 spot with their 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday. As of Thursday, the Red Wings, who will play in the Eastern Conference next season, would open the playoffs against the Blackhawks.

The two rivals have met in 15 playoff series throughout their history. The Blackhawks hold an 8-7 series advantage. They've played in four playoffs series in the last 25 years. The Blackhawks are 4-0-0 against the Red Wings this season.

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The Blackhawks clinched the Presidents’ Trophy by defeating the Edmonton Oilers, but that’s not necessarily a precursor to postseason success. Since 2003, only one Presidents’ Trophy winner has won the Stanley Cup (2008 Red Wings), and only two teams reached the Stanley Cup finals (2008 Red Wings and 2011 Canucks).

Blackhawks 4, Oilers 1
* Blackhawks: Clinched Presidents' Trophy (most points) for first time since 1990-91 season
* Patrick Kane (CHI): goal, 2 assists (4 goals, 3 assists in 3 games vs. Oilers this season)
* Blackhawks: 7-1 this season when both Kane and Jonathan Toews score a goal
* Blackhawks: 5-1-0 in past 6 road games

Presidents' Trophy Winners Past 10 Seasons
Playoff Result
2013 Blackhawks: ?
2012 Canucks: Lost in conf. quarters
2011 Canucks: Lost in Cup final
2010 Capitals: Lost in conf. quarters
2009 Sharks: Lost in conf. quarters
2008 Red Wings: Won Stanley Cup
2007 Sabres: Lost in conf. finals
2006 Red Wings: Lost in conf. quarters
2004 Red Wings: Lost in conf. semis
2003 Senators: Lost in conf. finals

Red Wings 3, Kings 1
* Red Wings: Moved into eighth place in Western Conference
* Red Wings: One point ahead of Blue Jackets (each team has 2 games remaining)
* Henrik Zetterberg (DET): 5 assists in past 2 games
* Kings: 0-4-2 in past 6 road games (scored 9 total goals)

Lightning 5, Maple Leafs 2
* Maple Leafs: 1-3-0 in past 4 games, one point ahead of Islanders for fifth seed in East
* Martin St. Louis (TB): 3 goals (14, 15, 16); seventh career hat trick, first this season
* Steven Stamkos (TB): Goal (29), assist; first multipoint game in past 10 games
* Maple Leafs: 0-2 on power play, 0-7 on power play vs. Lightning this season

ESPNChicago.com's Scott Powers takes your Blackhawks questions during a live chat at noon CT Thursday. Click here to submit your questions.

EDMONTON -- While not the trophy they originally had their sights on, it’s one the Chicago Blackhawks will definitely take en route to the ultimate prize.

The Blackhawks on Wednesday clinched the Presidents’ Trophy with a 4-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers.

By posting the league’s best record, the Blackhawks will have home-ice advantage throughout the NHL playoffs.

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EDMONTON -- A quick look at the Chicago Blackhawks’ 4-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place on Wednesday.

How it happened: Patrick Kane scored on a breakaway just more than eight minutes into the first period, which held up as the game winner in a relatively low-scoring affair between the two teams. Kane was sprung on a great pass by Michal Handzus and beat Oilers goaltender Devan Dubnyk, slipping the puck between his pads. Jonathan Toews opened the scoring just under four minutes into the contest, and Nail Yakupov responded for the Oilers less than a minute later. Johnny Oduya added a third, then Patrick Sharp scored an empty-netter. In their previous two encounters this season, the teams had combined for 16 goals. Corey Crawford earned the victory in goal for the Blackhawks after entering the game in relief of Ray Emery, who left at the 11:49 mark of the first period with an undisclosed lower-body injury.

Player of the game: Kane, scored the winner and added two assists. He was a threat for the Blackhawks all night.

What it means: With the win, the Blackhawks clinch the Presidents' Trophy with the top regular-season record in the league for the first time in 22 years and therefore claim home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs. The victory snapped a two-game skid and gave them eight victories in their past 10 games.

What’s next: The Blackhawks host the Calgary Flames on Friday in their final home game of the regular season. They’ll close out the lockout-shortened schedule Saturday at the St. Louis Blues.

Duncan Keith said Wednesday that there was no intent to offend the female reporter whose question after Monday's loss to the Vancouver Canucks seemed to strike a nerve.

"Over the years, people that have dealt with me know that I respect reporters, I respect everybody's job and what they do," Keith said. "Sometimes, especially after a loss, I can be fired up; I don't like to lose."

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EDMONTON -- Patrick Sharp is back in the lineup, Ray Emery gets the start in goal and Drew LeBlanc will be making his NHL debut Wednesday as the Chicago Blackhawks take on the Edmonton Oilers.

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The Chicago Blackhawks are down to four potential Western Conference first-round opponents after the San Jose Sharks and St. Louis Blues assured themselves higher seeds with wins on Tuesday.

The Detroit Red Wings is the team of note on Wednesday. The Red Wings can move into the eighth spot by picking up at least a point against the Los Angeles Kings.

Here's a closer look at all four potential first-round opponents with their records, ROW (regulation + overtime wins, which is used as a tiebreaker), remaining games and best-and-worst-case scenarios.

• Minnesota Wild, 25-18-3, 53 points (seventh place): 21 ROW, two games remaining (vs. Edmonton Friday, at Colorado on Saturday), best case (57 points, fifth place), worst case (53 points, out of the playoffs)
• Columbus Blue Jackets, 22-17-7, 51 points (eighth place): 17 ROW, two games remaining (at Dallas on Thursday, vs. Nashville on Saturday), best case (55 points, seventh place), worst case (51 points, out of the playoffs)
• Detroit Red Wings, 21-16-8, 50 points: 19 ROW, three games remaining (vs. Los Angeles on Wednesday, vs. Nashville on Thursday, at Dallas on Saturday), best case (56 points, seventh place), worst case (50 points, out of the playoffs)
• Dallas Stars, 22-20-4, 48 points: 20 ROW, two games remaining (vs. Columbus on Thursday, vs. Detroit on Saturday), best case (52 points, eighth place), worst case (48 points, out of the playoffs)

With just one week remaining in this shortened NHL season, the scent of playoffs is in the air. The end of the regular season brings the conclusion of many races, including the battles for major awards.

The Calder Trophy, like most awards, is based on regular-season performance, and this final week could certainly have a lasting impact on voters who will cast their ballots for the NHL's rookie of the year.

Here's a look at the top 10 rookie rankings heading into the final week of the season. (Note: Statistics are through April 21.)

1. Brendan Gallagher, forward, Montreal Canadiens

Previous rank: No. 1

Montreal has not played well of late, going 4-6 in its past 10 games, but this 5-foot-9 winger continues to be a bright spot. Just one goal shy of the lead among rookies -- and tied for third in the rookie scoring race -- only tells part of the story surrounding Gallagher. His larger-than-life presence has caught the eye of many -- especially his opponents. He continues to raise the bar with his intensity and grit while consistently making plays. It is rare that a rookie can lift the play of his teammates, but that's exactly what Gallagher has done this season. And that's precisely why I think he deserves the nod for the Calder.

Read the entire story here.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith didn't like the question and took his own shot at the questioner.

After the Blackhawks' 3-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Monday night, Karen Thomson, a sportscaster from Team 1040 radio, asked Keith about a play late in the second period.

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- They didn't look like the best team in the NHL.

After playing so well for so much of the season the Chicago Blackhawks almost expected things to go south sometime. And it happened Monday night in a 3-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks.

"That was the worst game of the year," said coach Joel Quenneville.

Hard to argue.

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Here's a quick look at the Chicago Blackhawks' 3-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on Monday:

How it happened: The Blackhawks were the second-best team on the ice all night. Vancouver played a physical game, denying the Blackhawks time and space. Chicago had difficulty breaking out of its own end and didn't get many clear shots at Canucks goaltender Cory Schneider. Daniel Carcillo scored Chicago's lone goal on a backhand during a scramble late in the third period. The Blackhawks were outshot 32-25 and goaltender Corey Crawford kept them in the game early, making key stops off Derek Roy and Jason Garrison.

Player of the game: The Canucks' Daniel Sedin broke open the game with breakaway goal late in the second period, then took a slash from Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith. Sedin also assisted on Zack Kassian's goal and moves into second place on Vancouver's all-time scoring list behind brother Henrik.

What it means: The Blackhawks suffered just their sixth regulation loss of the season. It was the first time in 12 games the Blackhawks failed to gain at least a point. The Hawks remain in first in the Western Conference with a 34-6-5 record but their lead over Pittsburgh for first place overall has been reduced to three points. Dave Bolland left the game with a lower-body injury.

What's next: The Blackhawks travel to Edmonton where they will play the Oilers Wednesday. The Blackhawks defeated the Oilers 3-2 on Feb. 25 but lost 6-5 on March 10.