Patrick Kane and Steve Montador will play tonight after being out of Tuesdays practice, but Daniel Carcillo and Marcus Kruger are still out as the Chicago Blackhawks host the Los Angeles Kings at the United Center.
Kane said hes had strep throat since Christmas Eve and struggled through the Blackhawks 4-1 victory over Columbus on Monday. He said he felt much better after taking Tuesday off, however, and is ready for tonight.
It was not the best Ive felt out there (on Monday), not too much energy and I just try to get through games like that, make simple plays, Kane said. Hopefully I make the right ones (tonight) at times and get some production.
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Montador just took a maintenance day on Monday. Meanwhile, coach Joel Quenneville said Kruger was feeling all right today, but isnt quite ready to go. Kruger suffered a concussion last Tuesday in Pittsburgh and got hit a few times again vs. Columbus.
Carcillo is getting closer, but Quenneville is looking at him returning against Detroit on Friday.
The Blackhawks have fared well against Los Angeles recently, sweeping all four meetings last season. The Blackhawks also won in Los Angeles in late November, when they wrapped up their circus trip. They are 9-2-1 since then.
Corey Crawford will start tonight.
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For Los Angeles, forward Simon Gagne (upper body) was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday.