Scott Darling will start but Andrew Desjardins will not play when the Blackhawks host the Dallas Stars tonight at the United Center.
Coach Joel Quenneville said it’s more about going with the successful lineup than Desjardins. The Blackhawks have won five in a row entering tonight’s game, including Saturday night’s 3-2 victory over the Stars in Dallas.
“Last night was more consistent. We had some good stretches as the game went, we progressed as well. We were a little more complete than we’ve seen,” Quenneville said. “Tough decision, but we’re going to go with the same group.”
Quenneville said Desjardins is healthy off the lower-body injury he suffered in the Blackhawks’ preseason finale and is likely to play Wednesday vs. the St. Louis Blues.
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This will be Darling’s first game since Oct. 22, when he recorded a 4-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Meanwhile, Trevor van Riemsdyk skated for the first time since suffering his upper-body injury against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 21. Quenneville said van Riemsdyk is still on the original timeline to return (approximately four weeks from Oct. 21).
NHL
DALLAS STARS AT BLACKHAWKS
6 p.m.
TV: CSN
Radio: WGN 720 AM
Chicago Blackhawks
Richard Panik-Jonathan Toews-Patrick Kane
Artemi Panarin-Artem Anisimov-Marian Hossa
Ryan Hartman-Marcus Kruger-Tyler Motte
Dennis Rasmussen-Nick Schmaltz-Jordin Tootoo
Defensemen
Duncan Keith-Brian Campbell
Michael Kempny-Brent Seabrook
Gustav Forsling-Niklas Hjalmarsson
Goalie
Scott Darling
INJURIES: Trevor van Riemsdyk (upper body).
Dallas Stars (via Dallas Morning News)
Jamie Benn-Tyler Seguin-Patrick Eaves
Antoine Rouseel-Radek Faksa-Jamie Oleksiak
Lauri Korpikoski-Devin Shore-Brett Ritchie
Curtis McKenzie-Gemel Smith-Adam Cracknell
Defensemen
Esa Lindell-John Klingberg
Johnny Oduya-Stephen Johns
Dan Hamhuis-Jordie Benn
Goalie
Kari Lehtonen
INJURIES: Jiri Hudler (illness), Patrick Sharp (concussion-like symptoms), Cody Eakin (knee), Mattias Janmark (knee), Ales Hemsky (hip), Jason Spezza (lower body).