Hawks hope Toews' return provides much-needed spark
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Let's see, in a span of a few days it has gone from there was no chance Jonathan Toews would play today to possibly he would dress but only skate on special teams to he's definitely returning.
Not only is Toews back in the Blackhawks' lineup tonight against the Canucks at GM Place after missing almost six weeks with a sprained left knee, the 19-year-old rookie will play a regular shift, centering the No. 1 line for Patrick Sharp and Patrick Kane.
"I think I was pretty hard-headed about it," Toews joked about how he lobbied coach Denis Savard most of the week to play tonight. "I wasn't supposed to play, but I guess I've been working on him a little bit."
Like Savard needed his arm twisted. The Hawks went 5-12 without Toews, which Savard admitted is an indication of how much the team needs its young star.
"The 20 minutes he plays makes a big difference," Savard said. "Just having him back gives us more of that balance again on the lines. You can't check one line now."
In a hockey season that lasts from September until April or longer, teams need things to happen along the way to provide sparks. The Hawks hope getting Toews back on the heels of Thursday's gritty 3-1 win at Calgary is what they need the ignite a winning streak.
"We all know that he's a big key to our team," said unofficial Hawks captain Martin Lapointe. "He brings a lot, not only as a player but as a leader and the way he plays. He's one guy that brings it every night.
"But him coming back, we just can't say he's back and he's going to do it all because he won't. He won't win the game by himself. We have to help him out."
Savard thinks the timing of Toews' return is perfect combined with the result at Calgary.
"We told them that the other teams are human like they are, and we've got to go after teams and we did," Savard said. "(Nikolai) Khabibulin was great, but our energy in that game made me believe we've turned the corner again here. But it's very easy to lose that momentum if you don't come to play (tonight)."
Toews had a second hard practice Saturday afternoon at GM Place. It's what Savard saw Friday in practice that convinced him Toews was ready to play.
"We did some battles, 2-on-2, and I didn't see any hesitation at all from him," Savard said. "That's when I made the decision he would play. He's fine. He's been saying it all week, but when I saw it for my own eyes it was good enough for me."
Toews might have his minutes monitored and shaved a bit from the 19 he was averaging before the knee injury.
"The knee feels great, and I have no doubts in my mind that I'm ready," Toews said. "I just have to relax and not try to do too much out there and let the chips fall where they may.
"Last year I missed two or three weeks with a shoulder injury in college and when I came back I tried to force things, which is when everything started to go downhill."
Tonight's faceoff
Blackhawks vs. Vancouver Canucks at GM Place, 9 p.m.
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Radio: WSCR 670-AM
The skinny: The Hawks have been off since Thursday's 3-1 win at Calgary, but the Canucks played at home Saturday night against Colorado. The Canucks were 3-10 since Jan. 8, with Thursday's 2-1 win in Atlanta their first in regulation in five weeks. Vancouver has been playing four rookies on defense with Willie Mitchell (back) and Lukas Krajicek (shoulder) out. The Canucks are 2-0 against the Hawks, winning 2-0 and 3-2 behind goaltender Roberto Luongo. Hawks coach Denis Savard starts Nikolai Khabibulin for the fifth time in the last six games.
Player to watch: Jonathan Toews. Hawks' rookie center returns after missing almost six weeks with a sprained left knee.
Next: Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena, 6 p.m. Wednesday
-- Tim Sassone