Status uncertain, but Seabrook on road trip with Hawks

Not having Brent Seabrook in the lineup wouldn't be the best way for the Blackhawks to begin their six-game road trip through Western Canada and California.

There was no official update Monday from the Hawks on the left-leg injury Seabrook suffered in Sunday's 6-3 win over Edmonton, when he lost a skate edge and crashed into the end boards.

But it was encouraging that the defenseman traveled with his teammates to Vancouver.

Losing Seabrook would hurt the Hawks in a lot of ways. He plays big minutes, is their most physical defenseman, plays the power play and kills penalties.

An argument could be made that Seabrook is one of the Hawks' three most important players with Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith.

“Well, we missed Duncs there for three games,” coach Joel Quenneville said.

That's true, but the Hawks went 1-1-1 in those three games Keith missed with a hand injury.

Losing Seabrook would present the same types of challenges.

“It's obviously a void with all the quality ice time in all situations,” Quenneville said. “He absorbs that type of minutes, and you appreciate what he provides you. All of a sudden everybody is coming in with more responsibility in greater situations.

“I thought we did a good job without him in half the game (Sunday), but at the same time it presents that challenge going forward.”

Nick Leddy got significantly more minutes against Edmonton after Seabrook went down, finishing with more than 27. Keith played 26 and Steve Montador 21.

“You just want to shorten up your shifts as a defense corps, talk a little bit more and just keep the puck simple,” Montador said of how things were different on Sunday without Seabrook.

Leddy was terrific against the Oilers with 2 assists and 2 blocked shots as he continues to turn heads with his play. Leddy leads all Hawks defensemen with 12 points.

“Nick's been good,” Quenneville said. “He comes up on the rush with that speed. He can skate by their pressure and all of a sudden turns it into an odd-man situation. He continues to come along nicely.”

If the Hawks are without Seabrook, this is where their depth on defense that runs eight deep would be put to the test.

Sean O'Donnell and Sami Lespisto have been healthy scratches for the last three games. One of them would go in for Seabrook — likely the veteran O'Donnell.

Even if Seabrook's injury is short-term, the Hawks are facing a tough task on the road for two weeks. The trip starts in Vancouver on Wednesday and doesn't get any easier after that.

There will be a three-day break between the Western Canada and California portions with the Hawks getting a chance to rest and relax in Las Vegas between games Saturday at Edmonton and Nov. 23 in San Jose.

The Hawks headed out of town with a three-game winning streak and a record of 11-4-3 that has them sitting first in the NHL's overall standings with 25 points.

“You've got to win on the road to be a good team in this league, so this will be a good test,” Daniel Carcillo said.

“We're not thinking of the road trip as a whole,” Toews said. “If you look too far ahead it might feel like too much work, I guess.

“We've played well in our own building before going on the road, so we'll use that confidence and play a simple game when we get out there.”