NASHVILLE, Tenn.Jonathan Toews skated back in Chicago today, and coach Joel Quenneville believes the Blackhawks captain has been cleared for contact. And as long as all keeps going well, the Blackhawks hope Toews can be back in the lineup by the end of the regular season.
Meanwhile the Blackhawks have four games left, beginning with tonights matchup against the Nashville Predators. There are a few scenarios that give the Blackhawks a playoff berth tonight; the simplest is if they get at least a point against the Predators. The team would love to at least get that taken care of tonight.
Its going to be nice, for sure, when we do clinch a spot, Patrick Kane said. Itll be nice when that happens, and even nicer tonight knowing we have some of our best players hopefully coming back in the net few games; and we can keep getting better as a team and not worry about clinching a spot.
Theyve been able to win without Toews and, most recently, without a suspended Duncan KeithKeith is eligible to return on April 5 at Minnesota. But against Nashville, it hasnt mattered who has or hasnt been in the lineup: the Blackhawks have just struggled against them. Their last victory vs. the Predators came in their first matchup this season, and their worst loss against them was a 6-1 drubbing last week. The Blackhawks would love to get the taste of that game out of their mouths.
We definitely want to beat these guys, especially in their building, said Corey Crawford, who will start tonight. We need to try to play that solid game weve played the last couple of weeks.
Nashvilles starting goaltender tonight is not known. Pekka Rinne was in net on Friday when the Predators beat the Red Wings 4-1.