Updated: Monday, Jan. 30 at 9:59 p.m.
VANCOUVERThe Chicago Blackhawks will need their injured stars healthy for this stretch run. Theyll get one back on Tuesday, and the other is pretty darn close.
Jonathan Toews will play and Patrick Sharp is questionable when the Blackhawks take on the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night. Toews, who suffered a left-arm injury against Florida and had it re-aggravated against Nashville, said he felt great during the teams practice Monday at Rogers Arena.
Sharp, who suffered a broken wrist when he was slashed scoring his 20th goal three weeks ago, could still play Tuesday but will have to see how he feels after morning skate.
Toews didnt go to the All-Star game festivities in Ottawa over the past four days. He said he hated to miss it, but those four days off were beneficial in helping him get better quickly.
Its one of those things that never bothered me enough to complain about it to begin with. I was just trying to take a shot against Florida tweaked it, and the next game (against Nashville) it just got worse, said Toews, who left that Jan. 21 game in the second period. Its one of those things, you walk around every day you may not feel it. But you shoot pucks and the little things, it kind of pops up on you. You try to be careful. I took care of it this week and I feel a lot better.
Sharp, meanwhile, could start against Vancouver. Monday was his first practice with the Blackhawks since he suffered the injury against Detroit on Jan. 8. He said he spent the All-Star break skating on his own.
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Sharp said he didnt realize anything was wrong in that game until a few minutes after he scored the goal. He tried to take a few more shifts against the Red Wings, but it was worse and worse, he said.
(Monday) was the first tine I touched a puck since the injury but there are all kinds of precautionary things you have to go through, said Sharp, who did skate on the second line with Marian Hossa and new Blackhawks center Brendan Morrison. Id like to think (I could play tomorrow). Im a little rusty but, again, well see how it feels in the morning.
For Sharp, missing the past three weeks has been aggravating. He got hurt scoring his 20th goal of the season, and probably wouldve been an All-Star selection if not for the injury. Understandably, he wants to get back as soon as he can.
Its been tough but the teams played really well, he said. We had a tough (two games) with Nashville but a lot of different guys have stepped up last seven or eight games. Toews stayed red hot and the young guys played well. Hopefully I can get back into the lineup one of these days.