(My Sportsbook) - No one is more happy to be returning home than the Chicago Blackhawks, who completed a dismal seven-game road trip Monday with a 2-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks.

Chicago, which last played on its ice back on January 23, ended the stretch 2-4-1, and with Monday's setback remained two points behind the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim for the eighth and final playoff spot in the conference. However 16 of its remaining 26 games will be played in the friendly confines of the United Center.

It was also the last game of the year in Canada for the Blackhawks, who finished the season 1-5-1 north of the border, its worst mark since going 0-9-3 outside of the U.S. during the 1983-84 campaign.

Mark Bell scored in Monday's loss for Chicago, which has just two wins in its last 11 contests (2-7-2). Jocelyn Thibault made 29 saves in the losing effort.

"I hate losing," Thibault said. "We've been playing hard. "It's not like we don't give a darn, we battled hard, but we can't score."

Trailing by two, Bell's goal spoiled Dan Cloutier's shutout bid at 19:18 of the final period. Tyler Arnason threw a puck at the net from the left boards and Cloutier stopped the shot. However, Bell made a diving attempt at the front of the crease and knocked the puck just out of the reach of Cloutier's glove.

Chicago's best chance of the night, though, came three minutes into the final stanza when Alexei Zhamnov missed an empty net by shooting wide. His off- target attempt came just two minutes after Markus Naslund put the Canucks up two with his league-leading 37th goal of the year.

"We played a solid road game and had enough chances to win," Theo Fleury said. "We missed an open net. That was the difference in the hockey game."

DAZE ALMOST READY

Help could be on the way for the struggling Hawks, as mammoth left wing Eric Daze could be back in the lineup on Wednesday when Chicago welcomes Toronto to the Windy City.

Daze has missed the last four games with a groin injury and has been sidelined 23 games with various injuries.

"It's tough," Daze said. "Always rehabbing has been frustrating."

WHAT'S NEXT

Chicago begins a brief two-game stretch at home on Wednesday against the Maple Leafs before closing the set against San Jose on Friday.