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Blackhawks' Oduya rejuvenated after injury

Looking back, the six games Johnny Oduya missed with an upper-body injury from late February to early March might have been a blessing for the Blackhawks.

Oduya was struggling before getting hurt on his first shift in the Hawks' 6-2 loss to the Boston Bruins on Feb. 22 at the United Center. He had 1 goal, 1 assist and a minus-8 rating in 21 games before the injury.

Since returning, he logged 4 assists and a plus-8 rating in nine games heading into Monday's against the Los Angeles Kings.

"I feel pretty good," Oduya said. "Sometimes you get an injury and you get a little bit of time to recuperate and focus and try to come back as strong as possible. So I feel pretty good. I feel strong and energized."

He looks like it, too.

After being rejoined with Niklas Hjalmarsson, the duo has again become the Hawks' top shutdown pair. That part isn't surprising. What's a little different is the offense they're helping generate. They combined for 4 assists in the previous two games and they're looking for scoring opportunities more often.

"You want to be engaged as much as you can, and then obviously both offense and defense are team play in your five-man unit," Oduya said. "We expect help on the defensive part, and then obviously the forwards need some help offensively too."

Showing great strides:

Patrick Kane was among the five Blackhawks skaters who took the ice Monday morning at the United Center, and he looked impressive.

The injured star isn't cleared for contact and technically has a little less than two months left in his recovery from a fractured clavicle, but it doesn't appear that way on the ice. Kane showed agility, speed, elite-level stickhandling and even fired off a few wrist shots.

Hawks coach Joel Quenneville certainly likes what he has seen.

"Yeah, and you watch him (Monday), he does everything you want him to do, or he wants to do, so I guess now we'll just listen (for clearance)," Quenneville said.

"The (decision) will be when it's medically cleared probably will be the one (hurdle), because I feel he would be ready to go as soon as he gets clearance. That's what we're waiting for."

Forward Joakim Nordstrom, out with an upper-body injury, also skated. Quenneville said he's "progressing" and the Hawks will know more about his status later this week.

Baun, Paliotta on idle:

Joel Quenneville isn't sure when, or if, either of the Hawks' recently signed rookies will make their NHL debuts in the final six games. That means right wing Kyle Baun and defenseman Michael Paliotta will first play the waiting game.

The Hawks are locked in a tight race for playoff position, which gives Quenneville pause when considering whether to throw a rookie into the fire.

"That's part of it," he said. "That's part of the decision making. How guys are playing, whether it's your opponent, whether it's the busyness of their schedule. But, hey, we have to win. That's priority, so we'll make decisions based on who gives us the best chance of winning.

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