Hinostroza's return means someone gets benched for Blackhawks
With Vinnie Hinostroza returning to the Blackhawks, coach Joel Quenneville suddenly has a tough decision in terms of which forward should sit out every game.
Against Buffalo on Friday, that player was Ryan Hartman. Against Arizona on Sunday, it could be Hartman again, but Richard Panik is another player who may end up in street clothes soon.
Panik hasn't scored in 20 straight games and has been demoted to the third or fourth line for the past three games.
"He has to make a contribution to the team game," coach Joel Quenneville said after the Hawks practiced Saturday at MB Ice Arena. "I thought his game was better (against the Sabres) and he showed a little turn the other day. But if you're not going to score you have to do something in a productive type of way."
Against Buffalo, Panik skated with Vinnie Hinostroza and Patrick Sharp, and finished with 3 shots on goal. He nearly scored on a wide-open shot in the second period, but Sabres goalie Robin Lehner made the save.
"He has physicality to his game," Quenneville said. "He needs more finish on checks, more greasiness at the net. Let's be harder to play against with that contribution to our team game, which we're going to need."
Hartman took 2 penalties, one a double minor, against Washington on Wednesday. He's in a 15-game goal-scoring drought.
So happy:
With time running short and Buffalo on the power play Friday, the Blackhawks were dangerously close to losing to a Sabres team that had posted just 2 victories in the last month. Tommy Wingels came to the rescue, however, by scoring short-handed with 3:34 remaining, and the Hawks went on to win 3-2 in overtime.
"I don't remember being as happy as I was on the bench when Wingels scored that goal (in) a regular-season game," said Patrick Kane. "That was a good feeling when that went in."
The Hawks snapped a five-game losing streak and have home games with Arizona and Florida on deck.
"Maybe that was a win we needed to get some confidence and get a good feeling in this locker room - especially when things were bleak there for a little bit," Kane said.
Franson hurt:
Cody Franson suffered an upper-body injury during the Hawks' win over Buffalo on Friday and is doubtful for Sunday's game against Arizona. Jordan Oesterle, who has played in just four games this season, is likely to take Franson's place. Oesterle skated with Duncan Keith at Saturday's practice.
Blackhawks vs. Arizona Coyotes at United Center, 6 p.m.
TV: WGN
Radio: WGN 720-AM
The skinny: Arizona has lost five of six (six of seven??), including 6-1 at Boston on Thursday and x-x at Columbus on Saturday. ... Heading into Saturday's action, the Coyotes ranked last in the NHL in goals against at 3.5 per game, and 30th in goals at 2.4 per game. ... Rookie Clayton Keller leads Arizona with 11 goals and 12 assists. ... Former Blackhawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson has suffered two injuries this season and will not play. He has no goals and 4 assists in 17 games. ... Lance Bouma did not practice with the Hawks on Saturday, but should be fine to play. ... The Hawks won at Arizona 4-2 on Oct. 21. The game was tied 2-2 after two periods, but Bouma and Tommy Wingels scored late in the third for the Hawks.
Next: Florida Panthers at United Center, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday
- John Dietz