Toews still able to play vs. Flyers

Hockey players play hurt, which is what Jonathan Toews did Sunday.

Despite getting banged up in a collision late in Saturday’s win at Detroit, Toews played Sunday but didn’t look like himself in the Blackhawks’ 4-1 loss to Philadelphia.

Toews played almost 20 minutes but was minus-2 and won only 10 of 21 faceoffs.

“I look at it two ways: Either you’re good enough to go, or you’re not,” Toews said. “Tonight, I felt I was fine. I think everyone along the season and in the playoffs, you play with something here and there.

“I’m not making any excuses, just like the rest of the guys in this room don’t. Whether you’re playing with something or you’re 100 percent, it doesn’t matter what you feel like, you have to find a way to produce.”

Toews said he suffered a lower body injury at Detroit and sat out the last few minutes of the 3-goal win.

“I just wanted to make sure it was something I could take care of and be ready for (Sunday), considering the situation in that game with about five minutes left and a 3-goal lead,” Toews said. “I just wanted to be smart and not make it worse. It’s nothing serious and obviously it felt pretty good today.”

Toews will have several days to rest after Tuesday’s game against Minnesota, the Hawks’ last before their six-day all-star break. Toews is scheduled to appear in next Sunday’s All-Star Game.

“He’s a tough kid; he’s competitive,” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said after Sunday’s loss. “He did what he had to do.”

Streak buster:

Marian Hossa’s successful penalty shot in the third period was the first ever by a Hawk at the United Center and the first on home ice since Troy Murray last did it in 1987.

The Hawks were awarded the penalty shot after Flyers defenseman Braydon Coburn was caught covering the puck with his hand in the crease.

Revenge factor:

The Flyers cared more about bouncing back from Saturday’s loss to lowly New Jersey than gaining revenge over the Hawks for what happened in the Finals.

“We were pretty excited for this game, but I don’t know if we wanted to prove something,” said Flyers winger Claude Giroux, who had 4 assists.

“It’s obviously nice (to beat Chicago) with the way last year ended, but nothing was said in the room before,” Jeff Carter said. “Each guy individually knew what was going on today and it was a big 2 points for us.”

Pronger pleads innocent:

Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger put to rest once and for all the rumor that he has the puck Patrick Kane put into the net in overtime last June to win the Stanley Cup.

“I don’t know where that puck is,” said Pronger, who did pocket pucks at he end of several games in the Finals. “I was on the bench. I was a little disappointed at that point to skate all the way down there and take a puck. That might be a little much. If I’m on the ice and it’s right in front of me, that’s a different story. Maybe the ref has it, I don’t know.”