Hawks hoping Hossa will face Phoenix
The Blackhawks left on their two-game road trip Monday with Marian Hossa along for the ride.
While Hossa missed practice again Monday with an upper-body injury, coach Joel Quenneville did not rule him out of Tuesday’s game against the Coyotes in Glendale, Ariz.
“Hoss is doing better today and we’re hoping he can play (Tuesday),” Quenneville said.
Hossa sat out Saturday’s loss to Boston, disrupting the momentum he had going with linemates Patrick Kane and Daniel Carcillo the previous game against Winnipeg.
“Hopefully Hossa is back and we can pick up where we left off,” Kane said.
Viktor Stalberg took Hossa’s spot on the Kane line against Boston and likely would be there again if needed.
“I thought Stalberg did a really good job last game, especially for his first game back (from injury),” Kane said. “He made a few nice plays on the wall that kind of freed me up and sent me in a couple times.”
The Hawks have had to adjust to playing without Hossa before. He missed his 43rd game over the last two-plus seasons Saturday.
“It’s never easy playing without one of your top players,” Jonathan Toews said. “We’ve gotten used to that, whether it’s one guy or another, you adjust to whatever is going on.
“We’d rather have Marian out there with us every single day, but it’s reality that sometimes you have to play with injured players.”
Power up:There was considerable time spent on the power play at Monday#146;s practice. The Hawks are 2-for-17 after four games.#147;The power play can be better,#148; Joel Quenneville said. #147;I think our unit should be more effective. Our entries are good, but I think we might be passing up some shots looking for a better play.#147;Once we start unloading it at the net, the next plays we can cash in a little more. I think we#146;re maybe a little bit looking for the too perfect play.#148;The first unit remains Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Andrew Brunette up front with Patrick Sharp and Duncan Keith at the points.The second group Tuesday (without Marian Hossa) was Dave Bolland, Bryan Bickell and Daniel Carcillo up front with Brent Seabrook and Nick Leddy at the points.#147;When you don#146;t score on the power play it#146;s going to be talked about, but we feel it#146;s getting better,#148; Kane said. #147;Myself, personally, I don#146;t feel it#146;s going to be a problem for us this year. I think we#146;re going to have a lot of goals, especially with two greats units we have.#148;Tip-ins:Ben Smith, out since the preseason with a concussion, was assigned to Rockford on Monday to play himself back into game shape. #133; Joel Quenneville said Corey Crawford would start Tuesday against the Coyotes. #147;There#146;s a chance he could play Thursday (at Colorado), too,#148; Quenneville said.