Blackhawks at Oilers
THE STORY: The Chicago Blackhawks will continue their marathon road trip on Thursday as they take on the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place. Chicago, which has lost five straight away from home and three in a row overall, is 0-1-1 on its franchise high-tying nine-game trek. The Blackhawks posted identical 4-5-0 records on their previous two nine-game trips. Edmonton is 2-0-1 in its last three overall contests and has won three of four at home. The Oilers ended a string of nine consecutive matches with two goals or less when they recorded a 3-2 victory over Colorado on Tuesday.
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, CSN (Chicago)
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (29-15-7): Brendan Morrison made his Blackhawks debut in Tuesday's overtime loss at Vancouver. Acquired from the Calgary Flames on Jan. 27, the 36-year-old recorded one shot on goal and blocked two others in nearly 19 minutes of ice time. Morrison, who played for Vancouver from 2000-08, saw his Canucks' record of nine overtime goals fall Tuesday as All-Star Daniel Sedin scored at 3:37 of the extra session. Patrick Sharp returned to the lineup against Vancouver after missing eight games with a wrist injury and registered a pair of assists.
ABOUT THE OILERS (19-26-5): Edmonton is likely to have its injured players back in the lineup soon. Defensemen Tom Gilbert and Cam Barker (ankles) hope to play by the end of the week, while rookie Ryan Nugent-Hopkins wants to return from his shoulder injury as soon as possible despite the team's cautious approach. "He wants to play on Thursday. I don't think that's realistic," coach Tom Renney said. "We're really close to a full-contact practice. If it's not Wednesday, it'll be shortly after that." Gilbert has not played since Jan. 2 and Barker has been sidelined since Nov. 10.
OVERTIME:
1. Oilers All-Star Jordan Eberle has registered two goals and six assists in the first three meetings with the Blackhawks.
2. Chicago has won six of its last seven visits to Edmonton.
3. The Oilers have gone 1-9-1 in their last 11 games that have followed a victory.