Slumping Chicago Blackhawks searching for answers heading into last part of season

CHICAGO - Blackhawks defenceman Johnny Oduya will be sidelined for a couple weeks with an upper-body injury, and coach Joel Quenneville says Scott Darling will start in goal on Tuesday night against Florida.

Oduya was injured in the first period of Sunday's 6-2 loss to Boston. He played in each of Chicago's first 60 games.

The absence of Oduya, along with the uneven play by some of Chicago's other defencemen, could lead to a move ahead of next Monday's trade deadline. But Quenneville says he doesn't know if the Oduya injury is "part of the equation at all."

Darling was promoted from Rockford of the American Hockey League on Sunday night, and the club also announced it had agreed to a two-year contract extension with the rookie. The start against the Panthers will be his first NHL game since Dec. 13.