Daley returns to Chicago Blackhawks after scary neck injury
Trevor Daley returned to the lineup Friday during the Chicago Blackhawks' 2-0 victory over Winnipeg at the United Center.
Daley had missed two games with a neck injury, which he suffered when the Jets' Chris Thorburn crashed into him during the Hawks' win Sunday.
Speaking to reporters in Nashville, Daley said he'd never "been that scared before."
The stretcher came out on the ice, but Daley was able to skate off with help from Duncan Keith and the team doctor. He played 8:44 and blocked 2 shots Friday.
David Rundblad, after 17 games as a healthy scratch, played in Daley's absence and also played Friday in place of Michal Rozsival.
Coach Joel Quenneville has been happy with Rundblad's performance on the power play, where he's received nine minutes of ice time in the last three games. Rundblad was a huge factor in both of the Hawks' goals against Winnipeg, firing the initial shot that led to Jonathan Toews' first-period tally and registering the secondary assist on Patrick Kane's second-period goal that made it 2-0.
Gretzky thrilled:
Patrick Kane extended his point streak to 25 straight games - nearly halfway to Wayne Gretzky's NHL record of 51 - in the Blackhawks' win over Winnipeg on Friday.
The Great One told Hockey Central on Wednesday that what Kane is doing "is great for hockey. And if he gets to 50, 51, I'll be the first guy to go to the game."
According to NHL.com, Kane is just the fifth player since 1990-91 to put together a point streak of at least 24 games. The longest streak by another player this season is nine games - by Ottawa's Erik Karlsson and Bobby Ryan, and Boston's David Krejci.
Dano down:
The Blackhawks re-assigned Marko Dano to Rockford on Friday.
The 21-year-old winger made his first appearance with the Hawks on Nov. 2 against the Kings and ended up playing in 15 games, but he was a healthy scratch in four of the last six. He also saw sporadic ice time, getting more than 10 minutes just six times.
"We want him playing," coach Joel Quenneville said. "Wasn't playing enough minutes, wasn't playing enough games. We feel that's got to be part of his improvement - getting neater with the puck, and more consistency."
Slapshots:
On Patrick Kane's goal Thursday in Nashville, Duncan Keith recorded the 350th assist of his career. … Keith blocked a game-high 6 shots and Trevor van Riemsdyk added 5 more vs. Winnipeg on Friday. The Hawks blocked 23 shots overall. … Andrew Desjardins took a game-high 7 shots on goal vs. Winnipeg. Desjardins had just 6 shots on goal in his last seven games.