Chicago Blackhawks: What to Expect (and What Not to Expect) on Long Road Trip

The Chicago Blackhawks got a mammoth nine-game road excursion started with mixed results Tuesday night at Rogers Arena. The Blackhawks were definitely better coming out of the All-Star break than they were heading into it, though three weeks of moral victories isn't going to count for a lot.

For long stretches against the Vancouver Canucks, the 'Hawks controlled tempo and did manage to wrestle a point out of a hostile outpost. The bottom line, however, is that it was still a 3-2 overtime loss, at the hands of the Sedin twins no less.

And so it begins: namely, the three-week road trip we've circled on our calenders as the key stretch to the season. It would have been great if we had some breathing room in the Central Division, but we don't. We're actually looking up at a few teams.

Cut the drama. Right now, the Blackhawks have to mind to their own business. For the immediate future, that business will be done out a suitcase.

Here's what we can expect, along with what not to expect, on Chicago's current trek.

Don't Expect Fatigue to Settle in

If there is an optimal time for three weeks of road games, it would be now. The 'Hawks just had a week off from the grind of the regular season, which should be a big help.

Chicago's approach to the trip should also help cut down fatigue. Instead of staying out of town for 19 straight days, the Blackhawks have divided the trip into three shorter jaunts. They'll be coming home for a few days for practice and a couple nights in a familiar bed.

Phase one of the trip is underway and concludes Thursday and Friday in Alberta.

Phase two sees the Blackhawks travel west to tangle with Colorado, San Jose, and Phoenix.

Phase three takes Chicago east to play the Predators, Rangers, and Blue Jackets.

Taken separately, you would like the 'Hawks' chances in any of those trips, so remain optimistic.

Expect Revenge in Alberta

The Blackhawks dropped consecutive games in Calgary and Edmonton back in November. Both games were lackluster efforts, capped by the 9-2 shellacking at the hands of the Oilers.

Neither Edmonton nor the Flames are going great guns at this point of the season. A solid effort in Vancouver doesn't guarantee results in the next two games. After all, the two losses came after Chicago started the circus trip off with a win over the Canucks.

However, the memory of a pair of stinkers should be enough to keep the 'Hawks honest. If they match the effort of Tuesday's game, there is no reason that Chicago can't exit Western Canada with five out of six points.

Don't Expect the Missing Piece to Arrive Right Away , If at All

Brendan Morrison played 18 minutes of Tuesday's game and was a spectacular Cory Schneider save away from being the hero of the night after he came up with a loose puck behind the Vancouver net.

Even as we give the new acquisition a few games to mesh with teammates, don't necessarily expect GM Stan Bowman to obtain an upgrade at forward or defense immediately. Any moves Bowman pulls off might not happen until the road trip is over, so the 'Hawks shouldn't sit back and wait for reinforcements.

Expect a Little Rust from Patrick Sharp

Sharp has been on the mend for nearly a month, so it may take him a few games to get back to speed. The fact that Sharp returned for the first game of the trip, along with Jonathan Toews, is a good way to start the post-All Star schedule.

Rumblings that Sharp is still playing with a broken bone in his wrist aren't welcome news, but even at slightly less than 100 percent, he's still valuable to the 'Hawks.

Don't Expect Cory Schneider's Effort to Be the Exception

Schneider's 37-save evening spearheaded Vancouver's win, but there are plenty of talented goalies capable of posting a hot night and ruining things for the Blackhawks.

Like the next two guys on the schedule, for example.

Though Nikolai Khabibulin has been anything but sharp lately, Devan Dubnyk is a big goalie who has played well in his last three starts. He picked up a win Tuesday over the Avalanche, and the 'Hawks may be gazing at the 6'6" Dubnyk in the crease Thursday.

Calgary means another round with Miikka Kiprusoff, who boasts a 1.56 goals against average and a .942 save percentage in his last five starts. The good news for Friday is that he's just 2-2-1 in that span.

Antti Niemi (San Jose), Pekka Rinne (Nashville), and Henrik Lundqvist (New York) are a trio of Scandinavian goalies that could also present problems for Chicago on the road trip.

Expect to See Ray Emery at Least Twice on the Trip

With back-to-back games on each of the first two legs of the trip, Joel Quenneville should have no qualms about getting his back up net minder some work.

Emery won his last start, allowing a single goal in a victory over Florida. He's 11-3-2 on the season. The only blemish on a solid season is the seven goals allowed November 19th in Edmonton. Does Quenneville give Emery a shot to avenge that embarrassment, or does Emery get another shot at Calgary, who he has beaten twice already this season?

I'd also look to see Emery in net against Phoenix February 11th. Quenneville has faith in his backup and won't hesitate to use him in at least a couple of games in the next three weeks.

Don't Expect to See a Lot of Sami Lepisto

Sean O'Donnell has teamed with Steve Montador to form a pretty consistent third pairing of late. When Quenneville wants to change things up, it looks like it's coming in the form of five minutes from John Scott.

In other words, don't expect Lepisto to get a chance at a lot of ice time away from the United Center.

Expect a Decent Showing When the Trip Concludes

Five wins out of this trip is attainable. Picking up an additional point or two like the 'Hawks did Tuesday could keep the team afloat in the conference standings.

The key is to come out with the same mindset as they did against the Canucks. Sharp and Toews will get their legs back, Morrison will start to develop some rapport with the rest of the team, and a 5-2-2 finish would be about as well as we can expect out of the next nine games.

Don't Expect Things to Get Easier Back Home

The 'Hawks can't put their feet up upon arriving home from Columbus on February 18th. The following afternoon, Chicago hosts St. Louis.

The next game, two days later, is with Detroit. The 'Hawks then host Dallas on the 23rd before jetting to the West Coast to take on Los Angeles and Anaheim.

This long trip will be tough, but it isn't exactly sunshine and rainbows on the other side. It's important for the Blackhawks to do well on the road, but the real push will just be beginning as February comes to a close.