(My Sportsbook) - The stumbling Chicago Blackhawks will try to end a five- game losing streak when they host the Los Angeles Kings in an afternoon clash today at the United Center.

With the regular season winding down, the Blackhawks have picked a terrible time for their longest losing streak of the season. Chicago once seemed to have a lock on the Western Conference's fourth seed, but is now tied with Vancouver at 85 points apiece.

Despite losing their last five games, the Blackhawks have at least been able to recorded a point in their two most recent trips to the ice. Chicago dropped an overtime decision in Columbus on Wednesday and was handed a shootout loss Friday against visiting Edmonton.

The setback to the Oilers marked the first of five straight on home ice for the Blackhawks. Chicago has lost three in a row and four of five as the host, but is 18-8-7 in the Windy City this season.

Patrick O'Sullivan scored the game-winner in the shootout to lead Edmonton to Friday's 5-4 victory over Chicago. After Jonathan Toews was stopped by Dwayne Roloson, O'Sullivan lifted the puck over Nikolai Khabibulin. Patrick Kane was then denied his stuff attempt from the left side and Ales Kotalik sealed the win with a wrister into the right corner.

Martin Havlat had a goal and an assist and Khabibulin stopped 27 shots in the setback for the Blackhawks, who have also lost seven of their last eight tests.

Chicago will be without forward Ben Eager for the next three games as he was suspended by the league for delivering a blow to the head of Edmonton's Liam Reddox on Friday. Eager is considered a repeat offender, having also earned a three-game suspension in October for swinging his stick from the bench at then-Dallas Stars forward Sean Avery in a preseason game.

Eager has tallied 10 goals and four assists, with 139 penalty minutes, in 66 games this season.

The Kings are 13th in the West, but are still only seven points out of a playoff berth. Los Angeles hasn't helped its postseason chances lately, as it has dropped four of five and eight of its last 12 games.

LA was in action Friday night at Pittsburgh and was handed a 4-1 setback by the Penguins as Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby both registered a goal and an assist.

Kings center Michal Handzus netted the lone goal of the third period -- a power-play tally -- to spoil Pittsburgh goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury's shutout bid. Jonathan Quick surrendered four goals on 26 shots in the loss for Los Angeles.

LA activated right winger Justin Williams from injured reserve Friday and he played in the game against the Penguins. Williams, who was acquired from Carolina at the trade deadline in a three-way deal with the Hurricanes and Edmonton, had not played since February 15th because of a broken hand.

The Kings are playing the third segment of a season-high six-game road trip today. Los Angeles is just 14-17-2 as the guest this year and has lost three of four and seven of its last eight road tests.

LA has won two of three matchups with Chicago this season and the clubs will complete the season series this afternoon. The Kings have taken four of six overall in the series, but have dropped two of three and four of six in the Windy City.