Chicago, IL (My Sportsbook) - The Chicago Blackhawks try to put an end to their 11-game winless slide tonight when they welcome the Buffalo Sabres to the United Center.

Chicago is 0-7-1-3 during the lull and hasn't won a match since November 7 against Nashville. With 19 points, the Blackhawks hold the worst record in the Western Conference.

On Saturday, Brian Sutter's club finished off a humiliating road trip with a 3-1 defeat in Los Angeles. The Hawks went 0-5-0-1 during the swing.

Kyle Calder scored for the Blackhawks, who managed more than two goals only once on the trip. Goaltender Craig Anderson, who has been sharing time in net with Michael Leighton while Jocelyn Thibault recovers from hip surgery, turned away 26 shots, including 12 in the second period.

News continued to darken for Chicago on Tuesday, as it was announced that winger Eric Daze will undergo back surgery today. The mammoth former All-Star has only played in three games this season and is expected to miss another 10 weeks of action. Captain Alexei Zhamnov is also sidelined after back surgery.

The Blackhawks, 3-3-1-2 on home ice, will visit the NY Islanders on Saturday.

Buffalo, meanwhile, had a two-game winning streak snapped via Saturday's 4-1 loss in Nashville. Vladimir Orszagh notched his first career hat trick to lead the Nashville rout. Maxim Afinogenov scored the Sabres' only goal of the game, while Martin Biron stopped 28 shots in net.

The Sabres, 5-8-1 on road ice, will host Phoenix on Thursday.

Chicago is 2-0-1 in the last three meetings with Buffalo, and the Sabres have lost five of their last seven in the Windy City.