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CHICAGO -- Chicago Blackhawks backup goaltender Henrik Karlsson will prepare Friday as if he’s going to play in Game 2 of the first-round series against the Minnesota Wild.

Karlsson’s mentality isn’t a reaction to witnessing Minnesota Wild backup goaltender Josh Harding be called upon to replace Niklas Backstrom as the team’s starter less than 30 minutes prior to Tuesday’s game because of an injury. Karlsson always prepares physically and mentally to enter any game in which he’s the backup.

“Just train good and prepare and rest like you’re supposed to play and try to be focused,” said Karlsson after Thursday’s practice. “I just try to be ready. I’ve been a backup for a couple years, so I’ve been thrown in there in games. I think I have a lot of experience about that. Hopefully, nothing happens. But if something happens, I’ll be ready to step in and I’ll feel good.”

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CHICAGO -- Injured Chicago Blackhawks forward Dave Bolland and goaltender Ray Emery will not play Friday in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Wild, coach Joel Quenneville said on Thursday.

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CHICAGO -- Injured Chicago Blackhawks forward Dave Bolland and goaltender Ray Emery are questionable for Game 2 Friday of their first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Wild. Neither played in Game 1 Tuesday, when the Blackhawks defeated the Wild 2-1 in overtime.

"I don't know about Game 2, but hopefully they will be skating (Thursday)," said coach Joel Quenneville, whose team did not practice on Wednesday. "We're hopeful on that. I don't want to comment too much on Friday right now on them."

Bolland has missed four consecutive games due to a lower-body injury. He suffered the injury against the Vancouver Canucks on April 22. He missed 13 games during season due to various injuries. He had seven goals and seven assists in 35 games in the regular season.

Emery has missed three consecutive games with a lower-body injury. He suffered the injury against the Edmonton Oilers on April 24. He is 17-1-0 with a 1.94 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage this season.

Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford made 26 saves in Chicago's Game 1 victory, and he was backed up by Henrik Karlsson, who was recently recalled from the AHL's Rockford IceHogs.

CHICAGO -- Chicago Blackhawks forward Dave Bolland and goaltender Ray Emery will not play against the Minnesota Wild in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Tuesday because of lower-body injuries.

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CHICAGO -- Chicago Blackhawks forward Dave Bolland (lower-body injury) and goaltender Ray Emery (lower body) will miss Friday’s game against the Calgary Flames and are considered day to day, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said.

Quenneville also said neither would travel for Saturday’s game against the St. Louis Blues.

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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.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- As far as coach Joel Quenneville is concerned, there's no rush to get some of his injured players back into the Chicago Blackhawks' lineup.

Quenneville said left winger Patrick Sharp (upper-body injury) and defenseman Michal Rozsival (upper body) will sit out Monday's game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena. Goaltender Ray Emery will dress as Corey Crawford's backup after missing two games with a lower-body injury.

Center Michal Handzus, who has played nine games since coming to Chicago in an April 1 trade from San Jose, will be a game-time decision. Quenneville didn't elaborate on Handzus' situation.

Quenneville said Sharp "is doing good" and likely will play in Wednesday night's game against the Oilers in Edmonton.

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CHICAGO -- Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Michal Rozsival (upper-body injury), goaltender Ray Emery (lower body) and forward Patrick Sharp (upper body) will miss Saturday’s game against the Nashville Predators, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said.

Rozsival and Emery are missing their second consecutive games because of their injuries. Sharp will miss his fourth consecutive game.

Quenneville said he expected all three players to travel with the team for its games in Canada against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday and Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday.

The Blackhawks have only once this season -- the season opener -- had a completely healthy roster.

CHICAGO -- Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Michal Rozsival (upper-body injury), goaltender Ray Emery (lower body) and forward Patrick Sharp (upper body) will miss Friday's game against the Nashville Predators.

Emery and Rozsival skated at the United Center prior to the team's morning skate on Friday, according to Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville. Sharp participated in the team's morning skate.

Quenneville said Emery is also questionable for Saturday's game against the Phoenix Coyotes. Quenneville said Emery is feeling better, but he could receive extra time to rest.

Quenneville said Rozsival is day-to-day.

Sharp, who will miss his third consecutive game, said he is getting closer to playing and plans to travel with the team for its games against Vancouver Canucks on Monday and Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday.

"Just another hard skate out there," Sharp after Friday's morning skate. "Luckily Drew LeBlanc is up here with me. We can practice pretty hard. A couple guys are out there as well. Just another day trying to improve and inch back into the lineup.

"As a player and a hockey player, you want to play and be healthy and ready to go. I'm not sitting out because I'm resting for anything. I'm not playing because I can't. As soon as I'm ready to play, I'll get back in there."

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Blackhawks recalled goaltender Carter Hutton from the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL on Thursday.

Blackhawks goaltender Ray Emery was not present for Thursday's practice at Johnny's IceHouse West. Emery is 16-1-0 with a 1.91 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage.

The 27-year-old Hutton had a 26-22-1 record with a 2.72 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage in 51 games with the IceHogs this season.

Hutton has not played in any NHL games in his career. He's played in the ECHL and AHL over the last four seasons. He was signed by the Blackhawks as a free agent on Feb. 24, 2012.

Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville's decision on a playoff goalie won't be an easy one with Corey Crawford and Ray Emery playing equally well.

They're both among the league leaders in goal-against average and save percentage, and the Blackhawks have won with both in the net.

But the bigger question may be whether it really matters which one Quenneville picks. While both goaltenders have been consistent, there's also the fact the Blackhawks defense just isn't allowing opponents many opportunities to score.

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CHICAGO -- Time is running out with nine regular-season games remaining, but Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville is still patiently waiting for Corey Crawford or Ray Emery to emerge as his No. 1 playoff goalie.

So far this season, Crawford and Emery have been neck and neck for the top spot. Crawford is 15-4-4 with a 2.01 goals-against average and .922 save percentage. Emery is 15-1-0 with a 1.90 goals-against average and .924 save percentage.

Emery has started and won the last three games, and Crawford will start against the Detroit Red Wings on Friday.

"I think in the past a lot of times the decision is always made for you," Quenneville said after Thursday's practice at Johnny's IceHouse West. "It's clear who is going to be the guy. This year, I can honestly say, both guys definitely get strong consideration based on performance. I think we're a position where, well, let's see how it goes right now without showing our hand. If both guys continue doing what they're doing, we'll be in a real nice situation.

"We'll see how it all works out. We'll see how it all plays out."

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ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Right now, the identity of the Blackhawks' No. 1 goaltender appears to be an open question. That wasn't the case a week ago, when both Ray Emery and coach Joel Quenneville suggested the job belonged to Corey Crawford.

But this is a whole new backdrop for a team that has dealt with its fair share of goaltending questions. Both Emery and Crawford are playing as well as they ever have in a Blackhawks uniform, and if they keep it up, the NHL's top team will be even more formidable when the playoffs begin at the end of the month.

Emery looked the part of Chicago's top goalie again on Tuesday night, stopping 20 shots in a 1-0 over win over the Minnesota Wild. It was his third shutout in five games, it dropped his goals-against average to 1.90 -- the sixth-best mark in the league -- and it made a compelling case he is every bit Crawford's equal right now.

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CHICAGO -- Here’s a quick look at the Chicago Blackhawks' 5-3 win over the Nashville Predators at the United Center on Sunday.

How it happened: The Blackhawks responded from a one-goal deficit in third period to score two consecutive goals within 65 seconds to capture the win. After the Predators’ David Legwand put his team ahead 3-2 at 6:54 of the third period, Brandon Saad scored for the Blackhawks at 9:37 to tie the game, and Jonathan Toews put the Blackhawks ahead at 10:32. Patrick Kane added an empty-netter in the third period. Andrew Shaw and Bryan Bickell also scored for the Blackhawks. Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne made 35 saves, and Blackhawks goaltender Ray Emery made 20 saves and improved to 14-1-0.

Player of the game: Toews provided the game-winner. He also had an assist. He has 19 goals on the season.

What it means: The Blackhawks clinched a playoff spot with the victory. They defeated the Predators for the third time in the last week. The Blackhawks improved to 29-5-4 with an NHL-best 62 points. The Predators haven’t won on the road since March 12.

What’s next: The Blackhawks are back on the road as they travel to face the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday.

CHICAGO -- Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville didn't dismiss the possibility of using two goaltenders in the playoffs.

"You never know," Quenneville said prior to Sunday's game with the Nashville Predators. "I don't want to say no. We'll see. It's nothing I'm worried about right now."

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