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Blackhawks play it safe with Hossa, Sharp

Better safe than sorry.

That’s the approach the Blackhawks are taking with Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp and their shoulder injuries.

Both Hossa and Sharp missed Monday’s game against Nashville, the 11th straight for Sharp and sixth in a row for Hossa.

“We’re looking to get them in this week here,” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. “They’re real close, and then with the fact we have a couple extra days here. More than cautious and more than ready when they come back is kind of what we’re looking at.”

Sharp said if it were a Game 7 of the playoffs he would be playing.

“It’s still not where it needs to be to play,” he said. “When it’s ready to go I’m going to play. I’m not going to miss games just to be cautious. I’m going to be out there playing whether the team is winning or losing.

“I think every time you’re injured there’s a mental aspect to it. You want to make sure you feel safe out there and put it behind you. You can’t be thinking about getting hurt or playing safe to stay healthy because that’s when you do get hurt.

“Mentally, I think I’m past the injury.”

Hossa was put on injured reserve retroactive to March 18, when he got hurt against Colorado.

“Every day is helpful,” Hossa said. “It feels better, but I need a little bit more time.”

Calder Trophy talk:Brandon Saad#146;s red-hot March has vaulted him into the Calder Trophy discussion for NHL rookie of the year.#147;Who knows?#148; Joel Quenneville said. #147;I know that we like the way he plays. I know that that first part of the season for I don#146;t know how many games, the production started to be reflected in his play. I think he#146;s in the right place on the right line, and he looks like he belongs there.#148;Saad had 3 goals and 12 assists in March after going his first eight games without a goal.#147;I think I haven#146;t changed much in my game and it#146;s just like the beginning of the season,#148; Saad said.#147;I#146;m still working hard. It#146;s just they weren#146;t going in early and they#146;re going in now. It was only a matter of time, but it#146;s definitely nice to have them going in, though.#148;Tip-ins:Centers Phillip Danault and Mark McNeill, both No. 1 draft picks from 2011, have been assigned to Rockford. Danault finished second in scoring for Moncton in the Quebec League with 85 points, while McNeill led Prince Albert in the Western League with 67 points. #133;Brandon Bollig was reassigned to Rockford on Monday following the acquisition of Michal Handzus. #133; Viktor Stalberg was in the lineup again Monday playing with a full face shield to protect the cut near his mouth that required 60 stitches. He was hit by a puck off the stick of Anaheim#146;s Ryan Getzlaf on Friday.

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