Viktor Stalberg (concussion) was cleared to play , but coach Joel Quenneville opted to stick with the same lineup that defeated the Red Wings and Kings in back-to-back games against the Predators on Wednesday. “I’m prepared to play but they’ve…
Inside the Blackhawks
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Inside the Blackhawks
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Inside the Blackhawks
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Inside the Blackhawks
Blackhawks star winger Patrick Kane left Sunday’s game against the Calgary Flames with a lower-body injury.
Kane was hurt moments into the first period when he tried to spin away from a hit by Flames defenseman Cory Sarich. He lay on the ice as play continued.
The Hawks training staff assisted Kane to the bench and into the locker room. He appeared to be favoring his left leg. Kane played only 23 seconds.
Kane has been a durable player throughout his career, missing only two regular-season games in his first three seasons and one this year with the flu.
His injury comes at a time when Marian Hossa (lower) and Fernando Pisani (upper) are out with injuries.
Here are the Blackhawks projected lines with Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa and Fernando Pisani all out of the lineup:
Viktor Stalberg — Jonathan Toews — Jack Skille
Tomas Kopecky — Patrick Sharp — Jeremy Morin
Bryan Bickell — Dave Bolland — Troy Brouwer
Rob Klinkhammer — Jake Dowell — John Scott
Duncan Keith — Brent Seabrook
Brian Campbell — Niklas Hjalmarsson
Jassen Cullimore — John Scott
SAN JOSE, Calif. — The blue-line line is back together for the Hawks Saturday against the San Jose Sharks. Defensemen Jordan Hendry and John Scott will play wing on the fourth line with center Jake Dowell.
The Hawks only recalled Jeremy Morin from the Rockford IceHogs. Morin flew in Friday night as the Hawks continue to shuffle him back and forth to limit his cap hit.
Did the Hawks think about recalling another forward? Rob Klinkhammer made his NHL debut against the Dallas Stars on Wednesday.
“We could of,” coach Joel Quenneville said after Saturday’s morning skate. “We did last game. It was an option.”
So the only other option the Hawks had was putting Hendry, who last played Nov. 7, back in the lineup. Scott and Hendry were used on the same line on Nov. 3 against the New Jersey Devils. Neither played in third period of the 5-3 loss.
Quenneville is still OK with using them together.
“One thing about defensemen up front is that you know they’re responsible [with] a defensive mindset, [which is] kind of like the way we want to approach it,” Quenneville said. “Plus, we get Jordan in the lineup, which is something we’re looking forward to.”
Scott is still a better fit at forward in the Hawks system.
“His size is certainly noticeable when he’s out there,” Quenneville said. “He’s been fine up front and he was fine on the back end. He’s done a pretty good job of where he is right now. So we’ll keep him going up front right now.”
Here are the Hawks’ projected lines and pairings for Saturday vs. the Sharks:
Stalberg — Toews — Skille
Morin — Sharp — Kopecky
Bickell — Bolland — Brouwer
Scott — Dowell — Hendry
Keith — Seabrook
Hjalmarsson — Campbell
Boynton — Cullimore