CHICAGO -- Trevor van Riemsdyk might not be the only Blackhawk making his Stanley Cup Final debut in Game 3.
‘Hawks forward Bryan Bickell, who missed the first two games of the series, told reporters on Monday he’s recovered from vertigo and is ready to play for the first time since Game 7 of Chicago’s Western Conference Final win over Anaheim.
“I feel better. Hopefully, I’ll get the nod tonight. Feeling better than I did in Tampa,” Bickell said following today’s morning skate. “Been through a lot of injuries in my career, but never been through anything like that. I feel better today.
“Tough playing when you’re dizzy. I feel 100 percent ready to come back into the lineup.”
Vertigo was just the latest setback in what’s been a disappointing postseason for Bickell. He’s gone without a goal after scoring 16 in the two previous playoffs combined and, of all the ‘Hawks forwards to play in at least 17 games this spring, Bickell’s the only one yet to have found the back of the net.
Should Bickell be re-inserted tonight, it could be at the expense of Kris Versteeg, who drew in for Games 1 and 2. Versteeg wasn’t skating in the top-four line rushes this morning and, afterward, seemed somewhat resigned to coming out when speaking with reporters.
“Obviously, you always want to play, especially in moments like this,” he explained. “In that sense, it’d be disappointing.
“But it is what it is, and you’ve just got to stay ready and be excited to play whenever you get a chance.”
Related: Goalless Bickell hopes he’s ‘been saving them’ for Stanley Cup Final
