Toews' injury another worry for Hawks

ST. LOUIS — Just when it appeared as if the Blackhawks finally were healthy with Patrick Kane returning to the lineup Tuesday, they lost Jonathan Toews to a suspected right-shoulder injury.

Toews was hurt 13 minutes into the 3-1 loss to the Blues when Matt D'Agostini checked him hard into the boards.

Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said Toews would be examined again in Chicago on Wednesday to determine the extent of the injury.

“As soon as we got healthy there we lose another big gun,” Patrick Sharp said. “It's frustrating, but it's nothing that we haven't seen before. It's something to battle through here and we'll move forward.”

Kane was back after missing eight games with a high ankle sprain. Marian Hossa got back in the lineup Sunday after missing 10 games with a knee injury.

“Everybody deals with it,” Quenneville said. “The opposition tonight was missing some pretty good forwards. It's all part of the game, getting through it.”

Slow start:

Patrick Kane returned from his high ankle sprain and showed some rust. He missed a clean breakaway in the second period with the score 1-1.

Kane got the puck through the pads of goalie Ty Conklin, but the puck slid wide of the net.

“I probably should have gone upstairs,” Kane said.

He had no shots on goal in 19 minutes and was minus-2.

“Obviously, first game back I had to feel it out a bit,” Kane said. “I think I can be better than I was tonight. Hopefully it gets better.”

Curious decision:

Blues coach Davis Payne skipped over Jaroslav Halak and surprisingly started backup goalie Ty Conklin, who allowed 7 goals on 24 shots in a 7-5 loss to the Hawks on Nov. 30 at the United Center.

It all worked, however, even though the Hawks put little pressure on Conklin.

“Just like any situation where a guy doesn't have success, the best medicine is to get back out there and get back up on that horse and get playing again,” Payne said.

Election returns:

Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith held their positions as All-Star Game starters in fan voting that ends Monday.

Toews remained second among forwards behind only Sidney Crosby with 308,192 votes, although Evgeni Malkin was closing fast with 289,878. Patrick Kane is fifth at forward.

Keith has 303,638 votes to trail only Penguins write-in Kris Letang's 391,525 votes.

Tip-ins:

Fernando Pisani was sick and didn't play Tuesday. … Jordan Hendry and Ryan Johnson were the healthy scratches. … Jermey Morin didn't play for the United States on Tuesday at the World Junior Championships because of his suspected shoulder injury.