Chicago Blackhawks' Keith getting closer to return
Duncan Keith zipped up and down the ice Wednesday at Johnny's IceHouse West, looking just like the Duncan Keith that Chicago Blackhawks fans have been accustomed to seeing over the past 10-plus seasons.
In addition to trying to beat Corey Crawford or Scott Darling in 1-on-1 or 3-on-0 rushes, he also took part in battle drills, mixing it up with his teammates for the first time since undergoing a procedure to repair a meniscal tear in his right knee Oct. 20.
"I haven't done that in awhile," Keith said. "It felt good to get into some action and test it out a bit, get into some bumping against some guys."
Coach Joel Quenneville said Keith is expecting to play soon and "there's a chance he could play" at St. Louis on Saturday or at home against Calgary on Sunday.
"Obviously you just want to be smart about it and make sure that I'm ready to go," Keith said. "It felt good today, so hopefully it feels good again tomorrow."
Rozy future:
In addition to getting Duncan Keith back, the Blackhawks also are anticipating the return of Michal Rozsival soon. The 37-year-old defenseman has been rehabbing from a broken ankle he suffered during last season's playoffs.
Asked if the process is taking longer than expected, Rozsival said: "You know, I would like to think I'm a quick healer. But obviously the time was something in between 4-6 months, and I think it's going to be six months tomorrow, since the surgery."
He then smiled, looked up and said … "So I think I'm right on time with it."
Rozsival could return this weekend, but more likely at some point on the circus trip, which begins Nov. 18 in Edmonton.
Mashinter recalled:
The Blackhawks recalled 6-foot-4, 212-pound Brandon Mashinter on Wednesday from Rockford. He skated on the fourth line at practice with Andrew Desjardins and Marcus Kruger.
Mashinter got the call from Mark Bernard, the Hawks' director of hockey administration, on the way back from the grocery store Tuesday. "He's like, 'Can you take (them) back?' "
"I'm like, 'No!' "
Mashinter, the IceHogs captain this year, had 4 goals and 3 assists in 12 games. He also had a combined 31 goals in the last two seasons with Rockford.
"You get some size, some physicality, he skated well in camp (and) I thought he played well in the games he played," coach Joel Quenneville said. "We want to get some consistency in our game and hopefully he can give us that."
Slap shots:
Teuvo Teravainen left practice Wednesday and did not return. Coach Joel Quenneville said he believes Teravainen will be able to play Thursday against New Jersey. … Ryan Garbutt, who missed the last game with an illness and hasn't been on the ice for a nearly a week, practiced Wednesday but wore a white sweater. That's usually an indication that a player will be a healthy scratch the next game.