"Mired in a five-game losing streak, the Chicago Blackhawks seemingly need all the help they can get from all corners. And Andrew Brunette could provide some sooner than expected.

The veteran winger will travel with the team to Denver and could be in the lineup by the weekend, Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said Sunday -- just a few days after the situation seemed much more dire following an upper body injury suffered in Edmonton last week.

"Bruno is feeling much better... than he did when we saw him last," Quenneville said after practice. "He's going to come on the trip and hopefully he'll play. We'll see if it's Colorado but maybe likely towards the weekend, if he's ready."