CHICAGO -- The Hawks had a stopover in Las Vegas planned before the team left on its annual "circus trip," but some wondered whether they still would go after losing 9-2 in Edmonton just before they were supposed to arrive in Sin City.

They made the trip anyway and wound up using it as a way to get rid of the bitter memory of that stinging defeat.

"It was kind of a wake-up call, losing that game to Edmonton, because we didn't play at all the way we wanted to," forward Viktor Stalberg said after this morning's skate at the United Center. "That was the biggest thing, but it was nice to get away for a couple days. It was good for us to get away from (the loss) for a little bit."

That's because it was one of those losses that stuck in a lot people's minds who watched it, let alone watched first-hand from the receiving end.

"It's easy when you have a loss like that to keep overthinking things," Stalberg said. "The message in our locker room from the older guys was just, 'It's a loss. It doesn't matter if it's 2-1 or 9-2. We take the loss and move on from there.'"

Chicago then lost its next game in San Jose, but played much better in defeat before winning the final two games of the road trip, against the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings.

CHICAGO -- After being a healthy scratch for the first time this season Saturday against the Kings, gritty forward Daniel Carcillo will get back in the lineup tonight against the Coyotes.

Carcillo played left wing on the second line with Patrick Kane at center and Marian Hossa on the right side for much of the early part of the season, but Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville wasn't thrilled with Carcillo's effectiveness of late and decided to sit him out for a game.

The message came through loud and clear, according to Carcillo.

"I haven't been playing as well as I'd like to," said Carcillo, who didn't record a point and logged just four shots with a minus-3 rating in the five games preceding his benching. "Obviously, sitting out last game I'm not very happy about … so I'm ready to get back at it with a strong match."

What things will Quenneville be looking for from Carcillo?

"The biggest thing is being on the forecheck and being on the body and getting under people's skin," Carcillo said, following today's morning skate at the United Center. "That comes with skating and working hard and getting (my linemates) pucks and finishing my checks."

VANCOUVER -- Alexandre Burrows needed four stitches to close the cut on his left hand, but will be back on the top line against Columbus tonight, leaving the other lines intact:
 
Defenseman Alexander Edler left Saturday's game in San Jose early after a big hit from Jamie McGinn, but was back on the ice Monday and Tuesday and also appears ready to play the Blue Jackets:
 
Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin - Alexandre Burrows
David Booth - Ryan Kesler - Chris Higgins
Cody Hodgson - Maxim Lapierre - Jannik Hansen
Aaron Volpatti - Manny Malhotra - Dale Weise
 
Dan Hamhuis - Kevin Bieksa
Alexander Edler - Sami Salo
Keith Ballard - Aaron Rome
 
Cory Schneider makes his sixth-straight start in goal, while Roberto Luongo watches a fourth consecutive game from the bench, his longest stretch as a healthy backup in six seasons in Vancouver.

For more on tonight's game, check out the preview here.

VANCOUVER -- Goalie Roberto Luongo isn't the only player that can't get back into the Canucks' lineup after missing time with injury.

While Luongo watches backup Cory Schneider make a sixth-straight start Tuesday against Columbus -- four since Luongo was deemed healthy from an upper body injury -- Mason Raymond also sits on the sidelines waiting his turn.

Raymond hasn't played since Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, when an awkward hit from Boston defenseman Johnny Boychuk left him with broken vertebrae in his back, a body brace and a new perspective about a game he wasn't certain he'd play again.

"You don't realize how lucky you are to have the use of your arms and legs, to be able to put your clothes on and get in and out of bed," he said. "That was a long time, so to be able to do that and get to the point where every-day life was good but you can't compete at a level in the sport we do, you look back at a lot of things in life and how much bigger the big picture is. I'm very lucky and thankful to be in the position I am now."

That position includes being cleared for contact the last week, and telling coach Alain Vigneault he was ready to play just before Saturday's game with San Jose. But with the Canucks on a four-game win streak, getting back in the lineup won't be easy.

That Vancouver added a similarly skilled player in David Booth in a trade with Florida while Raymond was out doesn't improve his odds of cracking the top-six when he does. There was some thought he'd move up to play with Daniel and Henrik Sedin on the top line after practicing there Monday while Alexandre Burrows received stitches for a tough-to-close gash on his finger, suffered on a slash from Sharks center Joe Thornton. But with Burrows ready to play tonight, Raymond will have to keep waiting.

Raymond, who scored 25 goals in 82 games two seasons ago and 15 in 70 games last season, isn't picky about where he goes back in -- the speedy forward played well on the fourth line after missing time last season -- but admitted to some anxiousness about getting back into total game shape and rhythm, both physically -- and perhaps more so -- mentally.

"I haven't played hockey since June 13, no training camp, missed out on a lot, worked real hard to get to this point, been through a lot of stuff, but very pleased with where I’m at," Raymond said. "I'd be lying if I said there wouldn't be a little nerves. … The game might be 70 percent mental, so it's not going to be an easy transition, but it's something I'm working at and I think I'll be stronger from what I've had to go through."

WINNIPEG -- Tonight's home date with the Ottawa Senators begins a stretch of 13 of 15 games on MTS Centre ice for the Winnipeg Jets.

The home-heavy holiday schedule will be a change for the 9-10-4 Jets, who have opened this season with 15 of their first 23 games on the road in going 4-7-4 away from Winnipeg. The Jets will welcome in the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday and receive a visit from the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night.

Home ice has been kind to the Jets this month, the club having swept a homestand from Tampa Bay, Washington and Philadelphia earlier this month in convincing fashion. The Jets followed up that effort with a 1-1-1 swing through Washington, Carolina and Boston last week. The Jets, whose 25.1-percent conversion rate on the power play at home ranks second in the NHL, rang up a 6-for-15 performance on the power play in those three home games before going scoreless on the man-advantage last week on the road.

The Jets are coming off a 4-2 loss on Saturday night to the Boston Bruins after surrendering four unanswered goals to spoil another strong performance from workhorse goaltender Ondrej Pavelec.

The Jets' blue line continues to battle injury woes. Ron Hainsey will miss his 18th game out of Winnipeg's past 19. Tobias Enstrom, Brett Festerling, Randy Jones and Derek Meech all remain on injured reserve for the Jets, who have lost 113 man-games to injury this season.

Here are tonight's projected lines and pairings for the Jets.

JETS
Evander Kane - Bryan Little - Blake Wheeler
Andrew Ladd - Nik Antropov - Kyle Wellwood
Tanner Glass - Alexander Burmistrov - Eric Fehr
Jason Jaffray - Jim Slater - Chris Thorburn

Mark Stuart - Dustin Byfuglien
Johnny Oduya - Zach Bogosian
Arturs Kulda - Mark Flood

Ondrej Pavelec is expected to start for the Jets, with Chris Mason backing up.

The Nashville Predators will be without Blake Geoffrion tonight against the Calgary Flames. The left wing suffered an upper-body injury in yesterday's 2-1 victory against the Edmonton Oilers.

Geoffrion was hurt after taking a hard hit behind the net in the second period from Oilers defenseman Ryan Jones.

Though Jones was assessed a major penalty on the play, Geoffrion didn't think the hit was dirty.

"I thought it was just a hockey play, really," Geoffrion said. "Kind of shoulder on shoulder and got his hands up a little after. I don't think it was a cheap shot or anything like that. I know Jonesy a little bit. I don't think he's a dirty player like that. Just a hockey play."

Predators coach Barry Trotz said he doesn't expect to be without Geoffrion for long.

"No surgery," Trotz said. "He'll be back fairly shortly. He feels much better today than he did yesterday, that's for sure. I'll suspect he won't be much maybe more than a week."

Nashville has recalled Kyle Wilson from Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League. Either he or Brian McGrattan will step into Geoffrion's place in tonight's lineup.

For more on tonight's game, check out the preview here.

CALGARY -- Despite a pair of injury scares late in Sunday's 5-2 win against the Minnesota Wild, the Calgary Flames will return to the ice intact tonight when they face the Nashville Predators.

Both Alex Tanguay and Scott Hannan will be in the lineup despite leaving Sunday's contest in the third period.

Hannan appeared to have suffered a serious injury after falling awkwardly on his knee in the final minutes of the game, and Flames coach Brent Sutter was relieved the veteran defenseman didn't suffer a more serious injury.

"When you look at how it happened, it's a good thing he didn't get injured on it," Sutter said. "At the time he was a little sore, but he's recovered from it in the last 48 hours. That's a good thing. When you see something like that you're always thinking the worst, but it worked out good."

Tanguay, who left the game midway through the third period with an apparent shoulder injury, also will be in tonight's lineup.

Here's how the teams could line up tonight:

FLAMES
Curtis Glencross - Olli Jokinen - Jarome Iginla
Alex Tanguay - Roman Horak - Rene Bourque
Blake Comeau - Mikael Backlund - Lee Stempniak
Tom Kostopoulos - Matt Stajan - Tim Jackman

Chris Butler - Jay Bouwmeester
Mark Giordano - Scott Hannan
T.J. Brodie - Derek Smith

Miikka Kiprusoff will start in goal, with Henrik Karlsson the backup.

PREDATORS
Colin Wilson - David Legwand - Patric Hornqvist
Martin Erat - Mike Fisher - Sergei Kostitsyn
Jordin Tootoo - Craig Smith - Nick Spaling
Matt Halischuk - Jerred Smithson - Brian McGrattan

Ryan Suter - Shea Weber
Jonathan Blum - Kevin Klein
Jack Hillen - Roman Josi

Pekka Rinne will start in goal, with Anders Lindback the backup.

For more on tonight's game, check out the preview here.

WINNIPEG -- Several members of the Ottawa Senators had not yet been born when coach Paul MacLean was running up big scoring numbers in the 1980s with the Winnipeg Jets.

The first-year Ottawa coach played 527 games with the Jets between 1981 and 1988 in which he logged 248 goals and 518 points during the high-flying days of the 1980s-era Smythe Division. MacLean later returned to Winnipeg in the late-1990s as a coach with the International League's Kansas City Blades, but tonight's game will mark his first trip into Winnipeg as an NHL coach.

"The time that I spent here with the fans was great," MacLean recalled after Tuesday's morning skate at the MTS Centre.

MacLean expects a fast-skating game from both clubs, who met on Oct. 20 at Ottawa in a 4-1 Senators win.

MacLean's 11-10-2 Senators arrived in Winnipeg fresh off a 4-3 home win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. They now begin a three-game road swing that continues Thursday night at Dallas. Ottawa is in a run of nine of 10 games away from Scotiabank Place, but the Senators will embark upon a home-heavy December slate beginning next week. Ottawa's previous game on the road was last Friday, a 6-3 thumping at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The road has caught up to the Senators, who are 4-5-2 this month following a 7-5-0 October opening to their season.

The Senators will be without defenseman Matt Carkner (knee), who has not played this season. Chris Neil (ankle) will miss his eighth game, and Peter Regin (shoulder) will miss his 19th outing.

Here are Ottawa's projected lines and pairings for tonight.

SENATORS
Colin Greening - Jason Spezza - Nikita Filatov
Milan Michalek - Nick Foligno - Daniel Alfredsson
Kaspars Daugavins - Zack Smith - Erik Condra
Jesse Winchester - Zenon Konopka - Bobby Butler

Jared Cowen - Sergei Gonchar
Filip Kuba - Erik Karlsson
Chris Phillips - David Rundblad

Craig Anderson will start in goal for the Senators, with Alex Auld serving as backup.

The Buffalo Sabres lineup should have a more familiar look tonight when they face the New York Islanders, as three of their injured regulars -- forwards Patrick Kaleta and Drew Stafford, along with defenseman Robyn Regehr -- will be back in the lineup.

For the Islanders, rookie forward Nino Niederreiter draws back in, while Michael Haley is a healthy scratch.

Here is a look at the lineups each team likely will use tonight.

SABRES
Thomas Vanek - Jochen Hecht - Jason Pominville
Nathan Gerbe - Derek Roy - Zack Kassian
Ville Leino - Luke Adam - Drew Stafford
Matt Ellis - Paul Gaustad - Patrick Kaleta

Andrej Sekera - Jordan Leopold
Marc-Andre Gragnani - Christian Ehrhoff
Robyn Regehr - Brayden McNabb

Jhonas Enroth will start in goal, with Drew MacIntyre the backup.

ISLANDERS
Matt Moulson - John Tavares - P.A. Parenteau
Michael Grabner - Frans Nielsen - Kyle Okposo
David Ullstrom - Josh Bailey - Brian Rolston
Matt Martin - Marty Reasoner - Nino Niederreiter

Mart Streit - Steve Staios
Andrew MacDonald - Travis Hamonic
Milan Jurcina - Mike Mottau

Al Montoya will start in goal, with Rick DiPietro the backup.

For more on tonight's game, check out the preview here.

Contact Adam Kimelman at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @NHLAdamK

The Buffalo Sabres appear to be getting healthier heading into tonight's game against the New York Islanders.

After missing nine regulars due to injury Saturday against Washington, defenseman Robyn Regeher (upper body) and forwards Patrick Kaleta (lower body) and Drew Stafford (groin) likely will play tonight against the New York Islanders. Coach Lindy Ruff wouldn't comment on the lineup tonight, telling reporters after this morning's practice, "We don't know if we're getting three guys back, but we're close."

Regehr, who sat out Saturday's game after taking a hard hit during Friday's game against Columbus, said he was happy to get back to playing.

"I feel good," he told reporters. "I found out that I passed the exam yesterday, so I should be good to go."

If Regehr plays, it'll be alongside rookie Brayden McNabb.

"I watched him a bit in the game against Washington," said Regehr. "He's a big, strong guy. I liked to see that he laid out a few guys with some nice big hits. I know he's excited, he's got his parents in town. I know he's excited and I’m excited to play with him."

The injury list could shrink by one more name in the near future -- goalie Ryan Miller, out with a concussion and whiplash since absorbing a hard hit by Boston's Milan Lucic during a Nov. 12 game, skated today and said he'll practice with the team tomorrow.

"I had a good conversation with Ryan today," said Ruff. "He was looking forward to getting in there and taking some shots. I told him I wouldn't take any today but maybe tomorrow."

For more on tonight's game, check out the preview here.

Contact Adam Kimelman at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @NHLAdamK