Campbell bummed about not being able to play

Brian Campbell hates the fact he won't be on the ice Friday night when the Stanley Cup playoffs begin for the Blackhawks.

"I'm trying to keep a positive mind, but I'm pretty down about it," he said.

But the encouraging news is the Hawks' puck-moving defenseman might be back in the lineup from his broken collarbone at some point in the series against Nashville.

Campbell, out since March 14 after Alex Ovechkin shoved him into the boards from behind, practiced Wednesday for the first time since the injury then afterward said he hadn't ruled out a quicker return than expected.

"We'll see how it goes, but I've got a ways yet," Campbell said. "I'll see the doctor again this week and we'll see.

"I'm not trying to put a timetable on things. I just know I will not be playing Friday."

With the series against the Predators potentially lasting until April 28, there's a chance he could get on the ice.

"I don't rule anything out," Campbell said. "I'm just trying to build up some strength. I'm just trying to work to get back as quick as I can. "

In the aftermath of the injury that saw Ovechkin suspended for two games, it was thought Campbell wouldn't be ready to play again until the second round should the Hawks advance.

"We didn't anticipate him to be playing for the first part of this series," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "We'll see how he progresses as we get some practice days in him and how he's skating and how he handles contact.

"It was good to see him out there. It seemed he fit right in there."

Still, Quenneville wouldn't commit to a timetable for getting Campbell back.

"Earlier on when he was first injured, I don't think it was on the radar (to return in the first round), but we'll play it by ear," Quenneville said.

The Hawks have missed Campbell's ability to skate the puck out of trouble and his absence also has been felt on the power play, which is 4-for-48 in 14 games without him.

"He's a great asset and you can use him in a lot of ways," Quenneville said. "Him and (Niklas Hjalmarsson) was a real nice pair for us. You got quality minutes, you got his speed on the back end, you got puck possession and you got a threat off the rush or off the point. He enhances our overall puck possession and speed game."

A sooner-than-expected return for Campbell would give the whole team a lift.

"You can't wait to get that guy back in the lineup because he's such a big part of (bringing) the puck up and making plays off the rush," teammate Kris Versteeg said.

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