Injured ankle forces Blackhawks' Kane to leave practice

The news regarding Patrick Kane's injured left ankle wasn't as encouraging Thursday.

A day after saying he hoped to return tonight against Detroit, Kane left his first practice back with the team early Thursday and won't be in the lineup when the Red Wings come to town.

Kane began practice, left the ice, returned a short time later to skate on his own for a bit, then headed back to the dressing room.

“It's part of the process,” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. “He might need a day off. He was out there for two days in a row and he might have aggravated it, but I don't think it's to the extent where it's a step in the wrong direction.”

In addition to Kane, the Hawks will be without Marian Hossa and Viktor Stalberg against the Red Wings.

Hossa didn't skate for a second straight day Thursday, but Quenneville expects him on the ice today.

Stalberg was ruled out for at least the Detroit game. He got his head run into the glass by Colorado's Ryan O'Byrne in Wednesday's loss.

There was some good news on the injury front. Fernando Pisani will return after missing eight games with an upper body injury.

Help on the way:

A USA Today report Thursday claimed the Hawks have signed veteran center Ryan Johnson to a two-way contract.

There was no announcement from the Hawks.

General manager Stan Bowman said earlier this week that Johnson was an experienced center and penalty-killer and was someone he would be watching at Rockford.

Johnson, who was at Rockford on a tryout contract, is the kind of reliable defensive player the Hawks need at this point.

Cheers and boos:

It's Chris Chelios Heritage Night tonight at the United Center, with the Hawks honoring the recently retired defenseman in a pregame ceremony.

“I'm proud to be honored in this way by the Chicago Blackhawks organization,” said Chelios, who was a dominant defenseman with the Hawks from 1990-99.

Chelios played 26 seasons in the NHL with Montreal, the Hawks, Detroit and Atlanta.

Encouraging words:

Struggling goalie Marty Turco appreciated Joel Quenneville coming to him to talk Wednesday.

“Everyone is in this together,” Turco said. “That's how this organization works.”

Battle tested:

The Hawks spent a good portion of Thursday's practice going through 1-on-1 drills.

“It's all about battles and you have to come up with loose pucks and win all those little battles and pay attention to all the little details that makes the difference at the end of games,” Jonathan Toews said. “It all adds up, and I think that's the difference for us right now.”

Tip-ins:

Rookie winger Jeremy Morin was returned to Rockford on Thursday. ... Corey Crawford starts in goal tonight.