Artemi Panarin returns to lineup as Blackhawks host Ducks

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After missing the last two games with an illness, Artemi Panarin will return to the lineup when the Blackhawks host the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday night.

During his absence, the Blackhawks were shut out by the San Jose Sharks at home, and followed that up with a 4-2 loss against their division rival Dallas Stars, going more than five periods without scoring a goal.

It was the first time the Blackhawks lost back-to-back home games all season, and they're looking to get back on track with Panarin's return.

"He's been an important player for us right from the outset there, but he's dangerous," Coach Joel Quenneville said on what Panarin brings to the table after the team's optional morning skate. "He gives that line another threat and our offense was a little light the last two games. He's dangerous offensively.

"That line's been consistent and we'll give him some credit for us missing him a little bit but we need to be better than we were across the board."

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Another player that may give the Blackhawks some additional jump is Jiri Sekac, who will clash against his former team for the first time since being traded by the Ducks for Ryan Garbutt in January.

It's the second time Sekac has been in this position in the past year after the Montreal Canadiens traded him to Anaheim before last year's trade deadline.

But this time, he had an idea that change could be coming.

"To be honest, I thought it could've happened," Sekac said. "The Ducks needed some kind of wake-up call and there were trades going around. Anybody could've gotten traded at that time. I was waiting for anything and when it actually happened, you just go with it. You just accept it and move on."

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While it helps that Sekac has been in this situation before, it doesn't change the motive of playing against the team that didn't believe in your abilities.

"Last year when I got traded, we actually played the Canadiens a week later, so I've already been in this situation," Sekac said. "It's always fun to play against a team like that. This gives you a little extra push kind of just to prove they were wrong, so that's what I'm going to try and do."

The trade has arguably benefited both sides, with Garbutt scoring three goals, including two game-winners, in his first eight games with the Ducks while Sekac joined a Blackhawks team that suits his style of play.

"This team is very skilled and (an) offensively-minded team," Sekac said. "Everybody would love to play on a team like this."

Quenneville also indicated that there will be "a couple adjustments" on both the forward lines and defensive pairings, starting with Michal Rozsival and recently-recalled Viktor Svedberg, both of whom will draw into the lineup. It appears Erik Gustafsson will be a healthy scratch.

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