Blackhawks get Richards back vs. Nashville
After missing three games with an upper-body injury, veteran forward Brad Richards will be back in the lineup Monday night against Nashville.
Richards skated on the second line alongside Kris Versteeg and Patrick Kane at practice Sunday.
"Richards coming back, that line was very effective for a stretch when we were winning games," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville told reporters.
With Richards skating on the second line, Patrick Sharp was with Marcus Kruger and Ben Smith on the fourth line. "Call that line any number you want," Quenneville said. "I think they're always effective in a lot of ways."
Bouncing back:
The struggles of Hawks goalie Corey Crawford continued Saturday early in the Hawks' 5-2 victory at Colorado as both of the Avalanche's first-period goals came on shots from long range.
Crawford's rough stretch began against Winnipeg when he allowed 3 goals on just 13 shots before getting pulled 15:30 into the first period of a 5-1 loss. He was stellar, though, the rest of the way in Colorado as he stopped the next 21 shots while improving to 13-6-2.
"Great recovery. After the second (goal), it was, 'Hey. let's go,' " Joel Quenneville said. "I thought he settled down and had good composure. Tough game. You haven't seen pucks for three days."
Lend a hand:
A fund has been set up for the family of Clint Reif, the Blackhawks' assistant equipment manager who passed away unexpectedly last week.
Donations can be made to the Clint Reif Memorial Trust fund, C/O J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, 120 E. Wesley St., Wheaton, Ill. 60187.
He said it:
"In today's era, a lot of the guys who get consideration for the top defensemen, Norris trophy candidates, they have to have output offensively. He loses that consideration. Maybe they can come up with a best defensive defenseman. That criteria, he'd be all right in that."
- Joel Quenneville on Hawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson's chances of making the all-star roster.
• Daily Herald sports writer John Dietz contributed to this report.