CALGARY -- Though the Chicago Blackhawks own the third-best home record in the NHL, a lengthy stint away from United Center could be the cure for their recent struggles.

The Blackhawks, who are set to embark on a string of six straight away from Chicago before the Olympic break, have been particularly productive on lengthy stints on the road.

"I honestly think it's just the chemistry we have in the locker room," forward Andrew Shaw said. "Being on the road with the guys is always fun. Going into someone else's barn and stealing a couple points is always satisfying. The games aren't going to be the prettiest but as long as we go out there and work things should go our way, that's for sure."

The Blackhawks went 6-1-0 on their annual circus trip in November, when they were forced to vacate their rink in favor of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus. Early last season Chicago went 4-0-2 on another extended road trip.

And in the middle of a stretch where Chicago has won three of its past 10 games, the timing for a lengthy road swing might be perfect.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- With starter Mike Smith still searching to find his form, the Phoenix Coyotes will go with backup Thomas Greiss in goal when they open a crucial five-game homestand against the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday.

Smith played in all three games of a 1-1-1 Western Canada road trip and had his struggles in a wild 5-4 overtime loss Sunday against the Vancouver Canucks.

The Coyotes have allowed 156 non-shootout goals in 52 games this season (3.00 per game). Only the Nashville Predators, Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers have allowed more in the Western Conference.

Greiss hasn't played since Jan. 11 when he allowed four goals on 23 shots and was lifted in the second period of a 5-3 home loss against the Anaheim Ducks. In 12 games he is 6-3-1 with a 2.21 goals-against average, .929 save percentage and one shutout, which he recorded Jan. 7 against the Calgary Flames.

WINNIPEG -- A hand infection will keep Winnipeg Jets left wing Evander Kane out of the lineup Tuesday against the Nashville Predators and out until at least the Olympic break.

Kane sustained the hand injury Jan. 7 in a fight with Eric Brewer of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Kane missed four games with the injury before returning for the revitalized Jets' past four games.

Chris Thorburn will take Kane's place on the Jets' second line with Blake Wheeler and rookie center Mark Scheifele. Wheeler, who leads the team with 21 goals, sat out the morning skate Tuesday but will play against the Predators.

James Wright will take Thorburn's spot on the Jets' fourth line.

"It's a really unfortunate setback for [Kane]. For our team but certainly for him because I liked the way he was coming and going and we're going to miss him," coach Paul Maurice said of Kane's injury.

BUFFALO -- Washington Capitals coach Adam Oates said forward Brooks Laich will be a game-time decision when they face the Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center on Tuesday (7:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, TSN2).

Laich is dealing with a groin injury that has kept him out of action for parts of this season, but he did participate in the morning skate.

"I'm sure he's going through so many bumps and bruises that I'm sure he's hypersensitive to what's going on down there, which is natural for what he's gone through," Oates said. "You look at every single game, you get hit so many times you don't realize. Faceoffs you get poked and prodded that maybe it was just something like that that he thinks, 'Oh no, here we go again.' And he skated today and he felt pretty good.

"I'm sure in his own mind he wants to make sure he doesn't set it back. He said to me, 'What if I play [Tuesday] and I can't play Thursday?' I'm like, 'Well, you can't play [Tuesday].' But I don't know how you think like that. He's obviously over-thinking it and hopefully he felt good out there and he can conquer it."

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues had a short memory after their last encounter with the New Jersey Devils.

However, they had no choice but to be given a stern reminder that the worst loss of the season the Blues suffered was at the hands of the Devils exactly one week ago. Instead of having revenge on their minds the Blues must look at it more as a chance for redemption when the teams play for the second and final time this season Tuesday at Scottrade Center.

The Devils (22-20-11), coming off a 7-3 loss of their own to the New York Rangers on Sunday at Yankee Stadium as part of the 2014 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series, embarrassed the Blues 7-1 in the only loss the Blues (35-11-5) sustained on their recent four-game trip.

Instead of completely forgetting about it and wiping the slate clean, the Blues will get their chance at redemption quickly.

COLUMBUS -- Ottawa Senators coach Paul MacLean said veteran Chris Phillips has played a major part in the development of rookie defense partner Cody Ceci in Ceci's first 20 NHL games.

But Phillips, Ottawa's active leader in games played (1,122), won't be in the lineup Tuesday when the Senators play the Columbus Blue Jackets in Nationwide Arena. He suffered what MacLean called a minor injury in the previous game at the Carolina Hurricanes and will be replaced by Patrick Wiercioch.

"A reason a young player can come up and have the success that he has is because [Ceci] gets to play with a guy like Chris Phillips," MacLean said.

Ceci, a native of Ottawa and the Senators' first pick (No. 15) in the 2012 NHL Draft, has one goal, four assists and a plus-2 rating in 20 games.

"I've enjoyed my time here," Ceci said. "The older guys have really helped me out."

Toronto Maple Leafs forwards Phil Kessel and James van Riemsdyk each took part in the morning skate Tuesday after missing parts of practice Monday and appear set to face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday at Air Canada Centre (7 p.m. ET, TSN).

Jonathan Bernier will start in goal for the Maple Leafs, who are looking to snap a two-game losing streak that followed six consecutive wins. It will be Bernier's first career appearance against the Lightning. Toronto is seven points behind second-place Tampa Bay in the Atlantic Division.

The Lightning will counter with Ben Bishop, whose 26 wins are tied for third in the NHL, one behind Antti Niemi of the San Jose Sharks and three behind League-leader Marc-Andre Fleury of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

BROSSARD, Quebec -- Montreal Canadiens coach Michel Therrien is shuffling his deck on defense again in advance of the game Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Defenseman Douglas Murray will play with rookie Nathan Beaulieu on Montreal's third defensive pair. Beaulieu will play the right side on the pairing, something he never has done before at any level of hockey.

Beaulieu will be Murray's fourth defense partner this season after Murray spent two games playing with P.K. Subban, and he has registered his three highest ice time totals in his past three games: 19:24 on Jan. 22 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, 18:36 on Jan. 24 against the Detroit Red Wings and 18:51 in a 5-0 loss Saturday to the Washington Capitals.

In 31 games this season Murray has been on the ice for four Canadiens goals and 17 goals for the opposition in 342:36 of ice time at even strength.

"We're trying to find the right combination with our defensemen," Therrien said. "Douglas Murray is a presence out there; he brings the physical asset we are looking for from our defensemen. Nathan is a guy who moves the puck well."

BOSTON -- Florida Panthers interim coach Peter Horachek thinks when his team went on the road and won three straight games against the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators in December, the Panthers gained the confidence they could prevail away from home against some of the better teams in the NHL.

That confidence has carried the Panthers on their current three-game road winning streak, which continued with a comeback against the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday. The Panthers will need all their confidence and more Tuesday when they visit the Boston Bruins, who are 19-5-2 at TD Garden this season.

"We know what we have to [do] to win, and no matter what building we're in we're trying to catch up to everybody and we're trying to make up some ground and trying to stay relevant to that last [Stanley Cup Playoff] spot," Horachek said after the Panthers' morning skate. "So you have to learn how to win on the road and be successful on the road and I think we've had some success. … That's important for us. We have to learn to play in those situations, in hard buildings, in tough buildings, and those got us going."

After one game back, Detroit Red Wings forward Johan Franzen on Tuesday was placed on injured reserve due to a recurrence of concussion issues.

Franzen had an assist in 16:45 of ice time Sunday against the Florida Panthers, his first game after missing 16 with a concussion sustained during a game Dec. 15 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

"Any time it's a head injury -- we've been through it a number of times -- they're hard things," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock told reporters after the team's morning skate Tuesday. "Obviously [Franzen] thought he was ready and then found out he wasn't.

"He'll be out a few [games] for sure, anyways, and he continues to work with doctors at U-M [University of Michigan]; they'll figure out when he’s available."