LOS ANGELES -- The last time the Chicago Blackhawks exited an All-Star break, they lost their next seven games. It wasn't a stretch to believe the downturn actually began with them dropping their final two heading into the All-Star weekend.

This time around, the Blackhawks took a two-game win streak into the hiatus.

Is it possible that momentum might carry over, too?

We’ll have to wait and see.

"It's kind of a new season," defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson said after the Blackhawks wrapped up a 30-minute practice Monday evening at Toyota Sports Center. "It's going to be a little rusty the first couple shifts, but it’s just like riding a bike: After a while, you get right back into it."

Chicago will be in better position to answer whether it has sustained the pre-break momentum after its California swing, which begins Wednesday against the defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings and continues Friday against the Anaheim Ducks before heading north Saturday to visit the San Jose Sharks.

The Blackhawks' most recent post-All-Star swoon came in 2012. The NHL didn't have an All-Star Game in 2013 due to a work stoppage. The Blackhawks then dropped their first game coming off the 20-day Olympic break last winter.

Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa weren't thinking about losing or retaining momentum when they showed up for practice Monday. Both said they were just looking forward to a competitive second half of the season.

"It was nice to clear the mind mentally, not think about hockey for a couple days," Sharp said.

Hossa, who had 10 points in the first 10 games of January after scoring seven in 13 December contests, said it was a relief to get away from the rink, even if the break came when he was playing some of his best hockey of the season.

"There's a second part of the season coming up and you want to [use the All-Star break to] recharge your batteries," he said. "It's going to be an all-out race to the end, and the games get tighter and tighter."

Sharp and Hossa were among the few big names who practiced Monday, with Jonathan Toews, Corey Crawford, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook not in attendance after playing in Sunday’s All-Star Game in Columbus, Ohio. Kris Versteeg is not on the road trip -- which continues through Feb. 8 at St. Louis -- as he recovers from a hand injury.

There was one new face on the ice: Dennis Rasmussen, who arrived following his first call-up from the AHL. The forward won't play against the Kings, as Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said he wants to stick with the lineup that earned victories against the Arizona Coyotes and Pittsburgh Penguins prior to the break.

Sharp said the 24-year-old Swede has shown the makings of a great NHL player.

"We saw Ras in training camp," Sharp said. "He's an all-around centerman there. He's a good skater, he's got great offensive skills, takes pride in the defensive side of the game as well, so it was nice to see him on the plane today."