With the Western Canada portion of the trip behind them, the Hawks have a few days to take a breather, before they next hit the ice on Tuesday against the Colorado Avalanche, in Denver.

But given the results of the last few games, which have resulted in five consecutive losses, who will we see between the pipes against the Avalanche? It could very well be, and should be, Ray Emery.

Emery was in net against the Flames on Friday, and though he took the loss, he looked plenty better than anything we’ve seen from Corey Crawford of late, save the Vancouver game from earlier this week.

Razor stopped 29 of 32 shots, though that doesn’t tell the whole story. Emery made some huge stops throughout, including the 10 minutes that the team was shorthanded.

Really, if you take that Edmonton drubbing from earlier this season out of the equation, Emery has performed well in almost every single start he’s seen this season. Yes, he’s given up five goals on two different occasions, but the Hawks still had a chance to win both.

Crawford has been extremely shaky for most of the year. After a splendid rookie campaign, Crawford has endured quite the sophomore slump. His saver percentage has floated around .900 for most of the year, and he has yet to actually steal a game in the way that we became accustomed to last season.

Neither goaltender has a shutout this season, nor has the defense been anything worth a damn for a good chunk of the year. But that argument can only go so far. And Emery gives this team the best chance to win at the present time.

However, it remains to be seen if Emery would be able to hold up for a potential deep playoff run. We know that Crawford could take the physical toll, but given his lack of consistency, he’d be a total wild card heading into the postseason.

Nonetheless, Ray Emery has proven that he’s worthy of a crack at the starting job. He’s a competitor and has performed consistently for most of the year, even if it doesn’t show up on the stat sheet. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to, at the very least, to see him getting more looks for this next stretch of games for the Blackhawks.

According to that law, Blackhawks defenseman Niklas Hjarlmasson, Brent Seabrook, and Nick Leddy should all be thrown in jail.

The trio were a combined -7 in Friday night’s 8-4 thrashing courtesy of the Edmonton Oilers — or more specifically Sam Gagner.

The former London Knight line-mate of Patrick Kane factored into every one of Edmonton’s goals, scoring four of them and assisting on the rest.

In fact only two Oilers before him, Paul Coffey and Wayne Gretzky, had done what Gagner accomplished against the Hawks.

And the aforementioned defensemen for Chicago made it look like they were as mesmerized by Gagner’s antics as the rest of Rexall Place — idly standing by while the Oiler’s swarmed the crease and took advantage of both Corey Crawford and Ray Emery, who relieved Crawford after he let in five goals.

For a team that has been desperately needing, and advocating, the acquisition of another stay at home defenseman tonight was the equivalent of screaming bloody murder for one.

If only it would get easier for the Blackhawks — who have garnered one point in their last four games — yet tomorrow they will meet a Calgary team as frantic for a win as Chicago, and if the Blackhawks exert the defensive effort they gave against the Oilers, the Flames will come out with a win.

The offensive effort however was a different story.

Patrick Sharp scored twice — his first points since returning from Injured Reserve earlier this week — the Hawks peppered the Oilers with 47 shots, and Jonathan Toews won 57% of his faceoffs.

Yet it may have been the offensive drive that caused the defensive breakdown.

Seabrook was regularly jumping into the play up front leaving a gaping hole on the back end, and while he did help generate offense — taking eight shots and hitting the net on three of them — the overall result of his near 27 minutes of ice time was a -2.

Simply put, if the Blackhawks are going to start picking up points they are going to need to play with the same level of intensity on both sides of the ice.

Perhaps having heard the chant “We want ten!” in two trips to western Canada will allow the Hawks to get the memo.

And while the Oiler’s record has them sitting in 14^th place in the Western Conference, against the Hawks this season they’ve been stellar — outscoring Chicago 16-9 and winning two out of three games.

“We got our teeth kicked in here last time,” Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said this morning, “Let’s make sure to remember that. Tonight we need a win in a bad way.” Chicago has earned only one point in its last three games.

Yet coming into tonight’s final match-up of the season with the Blackhawks, the Oilers have only won three games in their last 10.  This may bode well for the Hawks, who after playing the Canucks in their first contest since the All-Star break, have shown they could use a tune-up game.

In his first game since breaking a bone in his wrist on January 8^th, Patrick Sharp noticeably had trouble shooting. Sharp took six shots, two were blocked, one missed the net, and three were saved by Canucks goalie Corey Schneider.

“Conditioning-wise, and strength-wise I felt fine,” Sharp said, “It’s just a matter of getting that timing back, and that stuff comes from practice in games.”

And it’s not just Sharp who needs to perform at a higher level, but Jonathan Toews — who also recently returned from injury — as well. Against the Canucks on Tuesday, Toews won only 35% of his faceoffs, a long way off from his 60.6% season average.

But while Quenneville’s top line works out their kinks, the coach can take solace in the play of his starting goalie.

Corey Crawford finally found his old form in Vancouver, where he made 30 saves on 33 shots, many of which required acrobatics, and intense focus from the 27-year old.

And with one last chance to beat Edmonton this regular season, the Hawks haven’t forgotten where the series stands, and the amount goals they’ve allowed.

“It’s up to us to remember that feeling,” Toews said, “And hopefully go do something about it tonight.”

The native of Pitt Meadows, British Colombia, and former Canuck, made his debut with the Blackhawks on Tuesday night, in their 3-2 overtime loss.

There were plenty of positives to pull from the loss, like the Hawks’ overall play and that of Corey Crawford, as well as the obvious negatives (defense). But with Morrison being the new guy, there were plenty of eyes on him throughout.

Morrison was acquired over All Star weekend by Stan Bowman, in exchange for Rockford defenseman Brian Connelly. It’s likely the only move the Blackhawks will make for a forward, as I’d expect them to shift most of their focus to the blue line ahead of this month’s trade deadline.

The trade was seen as underwhelming, given the uncertainty over whether or not Morrison can keep up on the Hawks’ second line. But that’s where he lined up against the Canucks on Tuesday, between the returning Patrick Sharp and All Star Marian Hossa.

For the most part, Morrison wasn’t too noticeable. He won just 31 percent of his draws and recorded one shot, while falling just a few seconds short of 19 minutes for the game.

That one shot was very noticeable though, when Cory Schneider made one of his many stellar saves for the night, though Morrison could have simply elevated the puck to grab his first Hawks tally. But lack of elevation was the story of the night for the Blackhawks.

I think some of Morrison’s quiet play simply related to it being his first game with the Hawks, as well as the fact that he was playing in a city that he called home for quite some time. Once he adapts to his new linemates, who are two of the best players in the game, he should be just fine.

If not, look for Dave Bolland to slide into the middle on that second line. Morrison will likely see time on other lines regardless.

Either way, I like the Hawks’ move for Morrison. Once he gets more comfortable in the lineup, he should prove to be a quality addition and help the team down the stretch. Even if he’s not on the second line, he adds depth in the middle to a team that desperately needed it.

That’s why, as frustrating as it may have been, there weren’t too many people that were surprised when a defensive lapse cost the Hawks an extra point in overtime against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night.

In the extra frame, Daniel Sedin skated in all alone, with all four Blackhawks surrounding him, and slipped the puck past Corey Crawford. No one even uttered a word to Daniel, giving Crawford the loss on a night that he played what was probably his best game of the season.

There’s no doubt that the Blackhawks can score. With the returns of Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp on Tuesday, the Hawks boast a completely healthy team and can score with the best of them.

Their 3.14 goals per game ranks fourth in the league, which is good for second in the Western Conference. And as miserable as their power play might seem at times, it’s still a top ten unit, at least statistically.

But turn it around on the defense and you can see why there are many that are saying that this is a Blackhawks team that isn’t quite up to par for an actual Stanley Cup run. A deep playoff run, yes, but not another hoisting of the Cup. Yet.

It’s an improved number of late, but the Hawks are 19th in the National Hockey League in goals against per, with 2.82. But the most telling statistic of all is their record when they do and don’t score at least three goals in a game. When the Hawks score at least three goals in a game, they are 28-2-3 on the season. When they score less, they are just 1-13-4.

That tells you all you need to know right there. The Blackhawks haven’t gotten that “goalie win”, as Joel Quenneville refers to it as, and some of that is because of the fact that neither Crawford or Ray Emery have a top notch defense playing in front of them on a nightly basis. The offense is capable of carrying them through stretches, but for an entire postseason, where the games get tougher and lower scoring, the defense will need to elevate its game.

Luckily for the Blackhawks this problem is a fixable one. We’ve heard all sorts of rumors about how the Hawks are in the market for another defenseman, likely to add to that second line. It’s a guarantee that they’ll make some sort of move to add some help on the blue line.

The Blackhawks don’t need to add any help on offense. If the team can survive with some sort of combination of Dave Bolland and Brendan Morrison on that second line, they’re fine as far as the forwards go. But the defense is a serious concern, which is obviously not any sort of secret.

Luckily, it’s a problem Stan Bowman looks ready to fix and will likely do so before the trade deadline later this month. The Hawks are among the elite teams in the league. But until they can shore up things on the defensive end, which will likely help out Corey Crawford as well, they might not be able to win the 16 needed in the playoffs to hoist the Stanley Cup again.

That season Shaw only scored 17 points (8 goals, 9 assists), was a -4, and was along way away from the thought of the NHL.

The Andrew Shaw who took the ice Tuesday night in Chicago’s 3-2 overtime loss in Vancouver might not recognize that player from 2009.

Shaw entered tonight with seven points in his first 11 games in the NHL since being called up to replace an injured Patrick Sharp.

But Shaw was meant to be just that: A replacement.

Not even the best scouts could have predicted Shaw’s burst onto the scene — proven by his name being called 139^th overall in the 2011 Entry Draft — making it hard to send him down when Sharp got healthy.

The Hawks only had one answer: Don’t.

Chicago instead sent down fellow rookie Jimmy Hayes who had also been playing above expectations.

But while Shaw got to stay on the roster, he wasn’t going to be able to stay on the second line. Instead he was sent to Dave Bolland’s checking line — replacing Jimmy Hayes — responsible for shutting down the past two scoring champions in the NHL, Daniel and Henrik Sedin,

And in the process of learning a new role Chicago learned a new #ShawFact.

The 20-year old thrust himself into the rivalry by being arguably the best fore-checker on either team Tuesday night. Shaw took only three shots on net, wasn’t on the ice for any goals by either team, and yet 65 was a reoccurring number on ice for the Hawks all game.

In fact, Quenneville had Shaw play near 22 minutes, two of which were on the power play.

The Canucks even began taking notice to him too. Shaw was on the receiving end of monstrous hits all night most notably two from Keith Ballard, and once from Alex Edler.

The second line Andrew Shaw may not produce as much on the checking line Andrew Shaw, but just as he’s done since joining the club, the kid has been adapting to what his team needs.

The Blackhawks posted the above summary from an NHL 12 video game simulation of tonight’s matchup — 9:00 p.m. at Vancouver — on their official Facebook page. The real game will be a lot more complicated, if only for the simplest reason: The professional hockey clubs of Chicago and Vancouver can’t seem to get along.

EA Sports did get one prediction correct; Jonathan Toews will be back in the line-up tonight after missing last game against Nashville and sitting out All-Star Weekend.

“I’m excited to be back,” Toews said after practice yesterday, “I took the time I think I needed this past week, and I feel I’m definitely ready.”

Toews won’t be the only Blackhawk to come back from an injury against the Canucks.

Patrick Sharp, who has been on Injured Reserve since breaking his wrist on January 8^th against Detroit, will make his long awaited return to the Chicago roster — although he still has a broken bone in his wrist that may require surgery after the season.

“I’m ready to go,” Sharp said this morning, “I’m excited to play in this building.”

And he should be.

Before his wrist woes Sharp rattled off 17 points in 17 games, no other team would he prefer to continue that streak than against Vancouver.

But where the Blackhawks are dressing their best, the Canucks have decided to throw a wrench into the rivalry by starting backup Cory Schneider in net rather than Roberto Luongo.

In their first meeting of the year, in Chicago, Luongo made 38 saves in route to a 6-2 Canucks victory, but when they last played, in Vancouver, it was Schneider who got the start, and uncharacteristically gave up five goals — Schneider has seen 573 shots this season, only 39 have gotten past him giving him a .927 save percentage.

Yet, just as Chicago is, the Canucks will be playing their first tilt in seven days, and where Chicago entered the All-Star break riding a two-game losing streak, Vancouver exited the first half of the season earning points in five of their last six games.

“Were on the home stretch now,” Sharp said, “And it starts with a big one against our rival, it’s a good way to get started.”

The Hawks could get two of their most important players back from injury, when Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp return against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday.

Toews, a Hart Trophy candidate, has been out after suffering an injury against Nashville in the Blackhawks’ 5-2 loss to the Preds just over a week ago. That injury forced him to miss this past weekend’s All Star festivities in Ottawa.

The captain is a sure bet to play against the Canucks, as he’s already declared himself ready to play. He’ll likely take his place back on the top line between Patrick Kane and Viktor Stalberg against Vancouver. Toews has 50 points on the season, on pace for yet another new career high.

Patrick Sharp, on the other hand, isn’t so probable for Tuesday, but there’s a possibility he will play. Sharp has been out since January 8th, when he suffered a wrist injury against the Detroit Red Wings.

Sharp said he’ll wait until early Tuesday to decide whether or not he will make his return against the Canucks. He did practice, though, next to Marian Hossa and new Hawk Brendan Morrison. If he can get back into the lineup on Tuesday, the Hawks will boast what is basically a completely healthy lineup.

Obviously, the tilt against the Canucks on Tuesday is among the biggest games on this nine-game swing, which starts in Vancouver and ends in Columbus on February 18th. So it shouldn’t come as that much of a surprise that both could be ready in time for the road trip opener.

However, Toews’ injury wasn’t seen as too serious to begin with. Skipping the All Star Game was more precautionary more than anything. It will be interesting to see if Patrick Sharp is ready, though, having been out for three weeks since his last action.

Stay tuned.

Apparently tensions have run so high because of the debacle, that the Bruins would now consider trading last year’s Conn Smythe Trophy winner. His name has been among the hottest as trade rumors begin to pick up.

Multiple outlets have reported, to some degree, that the Blackhawks could be a potential landing spot for the 38-year-old netminder, who is having another very good year. But he can also be viewed as expendable, in Boston’s eyes, because of the fact that his backup, Tuukka Rask, is having quite a year of his own.

In 18 starts on the year, Rask has a stellar 1.82 GAA and three shutouts. Thomas has won 20 of his 30 starts, with a 2.12 GAA and four shutouts. Going back to last year, it hasn’t really been a question that the Bruins have the best goalie tandem in the NHL, at least in the Eastern Conference.

With these rumors that Thomas is being shopped, there is at least one big market team that could have interest in him: the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Hawks’ struggles between the pipes are well-documented. Corey Crawford hasn’t been the same goaltender he was last season as a rookie, and while Ray Emery has been solid, it’s unlikely that he could sustain the load for a full playoff run.

That’s not to say that Crawford’s struggles have been entirely his fault. The defense in front of him has often been inconsistent, a problem which Stan Bowman will fix before next month’s trade deadline. Still, Crawford has been shaky and has surrendered soft goals on a regular basis, prompting rumors that the Hawks could attempt to upgrade their situation in goal.

It remains to be seen if the Bruins are actually shopping Thomas, but if they are, the Blackhawks will certainly be calling. But what would it take to acquire him?

According to the Boston Globe report, it could take a main piece of Viktor Stalberg, who is having a breakout year in Chicago. On top of that, the Blackhawks wouldn’t have trouble mustering up any youth it would take, given their organizational depth. But with Thomas’ age, would it take an extreme package to get him?

We still don’t know if the Bruins are going to consider trading Thomas before next month’s deadline. But as the end of February draws closer, it will be interesting to see if the Hawks attempt to upgrade their situation in goal, or just attempt to fix the guys in front of Crawford and Emery.

Similar to the NBA’s dunk contest, the challenge pits skaters from each team against each other to see who can score the most creative goals. Patrick Kane, one of the Blackhawks’ two representatives, stole the show on Saturday night with his goal, dressed in a Superman cape and Clark Kent glasses.

Check it out.