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CHICAGO -- Here’s a quick look at the Chicago Blackhawks' 2-1 overtime win over the Minnesota Wild at the United Center on Tuesday in Game 1 of the Western Conference quarterfinals.

How it happened: Blackhawks forward Bryan Bickell continued to be a playoff star as he scored the game-winner in overtime off a pass from Viktor Stalberg. It was Bickell’s fifth playoff goal in the past three seasons. The eighth-seeded Wild initially shocked the sold-out Blackhawks crowd by scoring on their first shot of the game. The Wild went ahead 1-0 when Cal Clutterbuck beat Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford from the left circle at 4:48 of the first period. Crawford bounced back from the early goal and stopped the Wild’s next 26 shots. The Blackhawks evened the game at 1-1 when Patrick Kane dished the puck off to Marian Hossa on the rush, and Hossa finished from the left circle at 2:06 of the second period. Wild goaltender Josh Harding replaced Niklas Backstrom as the team’s starter just before the game. Harding, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis earlier this year, played in five games during the regular season. He made 36 saves.

Player of the game: Harding stepped up in a difficult situation. He hadn’t started since Jan. 30 and found out just before Tuesday’s game he was going to have to replace Backstrom. In his last start, which also happened to be against the Blackhawks, he allowed two goals on four shots and was pulled from the game.

What it means: The Blackhawks and Wild played in some tight games during the regular season, and that carried over into their first game of the playoffs. Two of the teams’ three regular-season games were decided by one goal. Both were also two of the top teams in the league in one-goal games. The Blackhawks were 19-3-5 in one-goal games in the regular season, and the Wild were 13-5-3. The Wild proved they’re not going to allow the Blackhawks to roll through the first round. The Wild kept themselves in the game most of the night by getting in the way of the Blackhawks’ shots. The Wild blocked 21 shots. The Blackhawks played in five overtime games in the first round last season and two in the opening round in 2011. Eight of the Blackhawks’ last nine playoff games dating back to 2011 have gone to overtime.

What’s next: Game 2 of the series will be held in Chicago on Friday. The series will then move to Minnesota for the following two games.

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Blackhawks got by during the regular season without consistent power-play production.

They’re not so sure they can succeed in the playoffs without it.

One of the main reasons for the Blackhawks’ fear of lacking a strong play at this time of year is what happened in last season’s playoffs. The Blackhawks went 1-for-19 on the power play against the Phoenix Coyotes and suffered three one-goal losses on their way to being eliminated in six games.

“Special teams, we know we have to be better than the last time we played Phoenix last year,” Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa said on Monday. “If we don’t score on the power play, we need at least to get the momentum. Momentum is huge in the playoffs.”

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CHICAGO -- Here’s a quick look at the Chicago Blackhawks' 5-4 overtime win over the Nashville Predators at the United Center on Friday.

How it happened: Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa scored the game-winner on a 4-on-3 power play in overtime. It was the Blackhawks’ second power-play goal of the game after having not scored on the power play in their previous nine games. The Predators’ Bobby Butler tied the game at 4-4 with a goal with 3:34 remaining in the third period. Michal Handzus, Duncan Keith, Brandon Saad and Patrick Kane also scored for the Blackhawks. Matt Halischuk had two goals for the Predators.

Player of the game: Hossa scored his team-leading sixth game-winning goal of the season.

What it means: The Blackhawks extended their winning streak to seven games and their points streak to 10 games. They improved to 34-5-4 with 72 points on the season. They defeated the Predators in all five meetings this season.

What’s next: The Blackhawks remain in Chicago to face the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday. The Blackhawks defeated the Coyotes 6-4 and 6-2 in their two previous meetings this season.

CHICAGO -- Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville and his players returned to the drawing board Thursday in hopes of finding an answer to their struggling power play.

The Blackhawks haven't scored in their last 19 power-play opportunities covering a span of nine games. Their last power-play goal came against the Anaheim Ducks on March 29.

The Blackhawks haven't been sizzling on the power play all season, but it's been worse in the past month. Since scoring two power-play goals against the Dallas Stars on March 16 and raising their power-play percentage to 18.8, which was then tied for 13th in the league, the Blackhawks have scored just two power-play goals on their last 35 chances. Their percentage dropped to 15.4, which is 20th in the league.

"We're not happy with it," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said after Thursday's practice. "We're working on it here regularly each and every day. Whether it's the personnel or what we're trying to do on the ice, I think that's the one sore spot we've had as we've had our second part of the season here.

"The guys, they want to see it resolved as well knowing whether we're getting production or high-scoring chances or quality-scoring chances. [That] is what we're looking for. We lost some momentum over the last couple games in that area. I think that's the one area we want to make sure that can ignite our offense. We know how valuable those timely goals from the power play (can be)."

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ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Patrick Sharp was back on the ice, taking faceoffs and playing nearly 18 minutes after missing a month with an upper-body injury. Marian Hossa scored for the first time in three weeks, after sitting out with an upper-body injury of his own.

On Tuesday night against the Minnesota Wild, the Blackhawks were as healthy as they've been in a while. And with nine games left in the regular season, it couldn't come at a better time.

Chicago has survived injuries to two of its top six forwards, continuing to roll through its schedule, but the commanding, assertive hockey the Blackhawks played on Tuesday night was indicative of what they can do when they're at full strength.

They limited Minnesota to just 20 shots, with strong contributions from both Sharp and Hossa on the defensive end, and Hossa swooped in front of a Clayton Stoner pass, beating Niklas Backstrom for Chicago's only goal of a 1-0 victory.

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CHICAGO -- Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa will play Thursday against the St. Louis Blues after missing six games with an upper-body injury, but Patrick Sharp will miss his 12th straight game, coach Joel Quenneville said.

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CHICAGO -- Chicago Blackhawks forwards Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp will not play Monday against the Nashville Predators as they recover from upper-body injuries.

Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said they will be re-evaluated Wednesday and could play Thursday against the St. Louis Blues. Both players participated in Monday's morning skate at the United Center.

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CHICAGO -- The Chicago Blackhawks recalled forward Jeremy Morin from the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL on Saturday.

Morin filled Marian Hossa’s roster spot. Hossa was retroactively placed on the injured reserved on Friday. Hossa practiced Saturday and is expected to return to game action soon.

The 21-year-old Morin has 27 goals, which ranks fifth in the AHL, and 22 assists in 59 games with the IceHogs this season. He had 10 goals and four assists in 10 games in March.

“I just think he’s been playing really well down there,” Quenneville said of Morin. “He deserves a chance for us to get a look at him. I think he’s been producing at a real nice rate. He’s been here before. It’ll be a good opportunity to see how he fits in and what he could contribute to our team and be a good test for him.”

Morin said he was told of the move after playing in a game in Rockford on Friday and drove to Chicago on Saturday morning. He was grateful for his first chance with the Blackhawks this season. He played in three games with the team last season.

“Obviously every time you get an opportunity to come up here you try to play your game and just prove you can play up here,” Morin said. “I think I just have another opportunity to do that. I’m excited for it.”

CHICAGO -- Chicago Blackhawks forwards Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp returned to practice Thursday, but they will not play Friday against the Anaheim Ducks.

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CHICAGO -- Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa will miss his third consecutive game Tuesday due an unspecified upper-body injury, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said.

Hossa suffered the injury against the Colorado Avalanche on March 18 and has not played since then. He has 13 goals and 10 assists in 28 games this season

Hossa and forward Patrick Sharp, who also has an unspecified upper-body injury, skated Tuesday morning at the United Center. Sharp suffered his injury against the Avalanche on March 6 and was expected to miss 3-4 weeks. He has five goals and 13 assists in 24 games this season.

“(Hossa) skated today, so he’s progressing,” Quenneville said prior to Tuesday’s game with the Calgary Flames. “Kind of comparable to (Sharp), so we’ll see how they do.”

Quenneville said he wouldn’t “rule out” Hossa playing Friday against the Anaheim Ducks, but he thought it was a stretch for Sharp to play on Friday.

CHICAGO -- Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa will miss his second consecutive game Monday due to an upper-body injury, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said.

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CHICAGO -- Chicago Blackhawks forwards Marian Hossa and Andrew Shaw did not practice on Sunday.

Hossa suffered an upper-body injury against the Colorado Avalanche on March 18 and has not played since. He’s missed one game and two practices due to the injury. Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said after Sunday’s practice Hossa is unlikely to play against the Los Angeles Kings on Monday.

Quenneville said Shaw missed Sunday’s practice with the flu and is questionable for Monday’s game.

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CHICAGO -- Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa missed practice Friday due to an upper-body injury and is unlikely to play in Monday's game against the Los Angeles Kings, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville.

Hossa was injured during the first period against the Colorado Avalanche on March 18 and has not played since. He missed Wednesday's game against the Anaheim Ducks.

Quenneville said Hossa's injury isn't long term.

"He's doing all right," Quenneville said after practice at Johnny's IceHouse West. "Hopefully, he'll get on the ice (for practice) on Sunday. He's progressing. … With him, not likely (to play on Monday.)"

Hossa has 13 goals and 10 assists in 28 games this season.

Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane has picked up most of Hossa's minutes in his absence. Kane double-shifted throughout Wednesday's game and played a team-high 24:23.

Quenneville said utilizing Kane in the same way could be a possibility again on Monday.

"At least you can go through that in games, maybe see how the game is going," Quenneville said. "It's a great option to have. I think maybe we'll put someone up there to start."

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Chicago Blackhawks were 5½ minutes away from a perfect road trip Wednesday night, then they left the Anaheim Ducks a sliver to slip through.

The Ducks scored three goals in those final minutes, turning a one-goal deficit into a 4-2 victory in front of the largest crowd to watch an NHL game at Honda Center. The Ducks now trail Chicago by three points for the West lead.

Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said the result felt similar to the 3-2 shootout loss Chicago experienced against the visiting Ducks on Feb. 12, when Anaheim scored the tying goal with 2:40 left.

“It’s a seven-point swing when you look at it,” Quenneville said.

But the Blackhawks also reiterated they weren’t going to let the loss douse their mood, not after winning the first three games on the road trip, including a 5-2 victory Monday against the Colorado Avalanche, the team that earlier ended Chicago's NHL-record 24-game point streak to start the season.

“Other than the way tonight’s game finished, it was a good road trip,” said center Jonathan Toews, who scored a short-handed goal early in the first period to tie the score, 1-1. “We’ve really been building our game and playing smart as a team.”

And that was without last season’s leading goal scorer, Patrick Sharp, who missed his sixth consecutive game Wednesday with a shoulder injury, and most recently second-leading scorer Marian Hossa, who went down with an upper-body injury Monday against the Avalanche and sat against the Ducks.

Sharp is expected to be out another two to three weeks. Quenneville sounded more optimistic about Hossa, offering “I hope so” when asked if Hossa would be available for Monday’s home game against the defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings.

“We’re not going to get too down,” said defenseman Duncan Keith. “Just, basically, the game came down to a couple plays at the end. We know we can be better and a little more sharp.”

The Blackhawks plan to use the next couple of days to “recharge the batteries,” as Toews said, and get ready for a three-game homestand that also includes a visit from the Ducks on March 29.

“We’ll use those four days and get back at it and be excited,” Toews said.

The Chicago Blackhawks will be without third-leading scorer Marian Hossa when they play the Anaheim Ducks Wednesday in a battle of the top two Western Conference teams, coach Joel Quenneville told reporters following the morning skate.

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