Chicago Blackhawks put captain Jonathan Toews on day-to-day call for upper body injury-NHL News
The Chicago Blackhawks have not updated injury status of their centre and captain, Jonathan Toews, as the player remains a day-to-day call on the chances of participation in the game.
Owing to an unexplained upper body injury, Toews missed out on the team’s practice on Wednesday, February 22, 2012, and is set to sit out of Thursday’s game against the Dallas Stars.
Blackhawks’ coach, Joel Quenneville, said of the player’s latest injury status:
"Tazer (Toews) is progressing. Still day-to-day, out for tomorrow."
It is not clear when and where the player suffered the injury and its status has also not been determined by the team.
The coach said:
"Not getting into too much specifics, it was something we talked about after (Sunday's) game."
Only further explanation from the official was that the player is going to miss the next game, and his participation in the future games would remain a day-to-day decision.
Quenneville did admit that the team is going to feel Toews’ absence, apparently reflecting on the significant amount of contribution he makes towards their performance and win.
"When you don't have Johnny in the lineup, it's a concern with his minutes and importance and leadership. It's always important when your top guy's not there or your top players. It's something that we're hopeful he's going to be back (soon),” the coach
added.
This will be the second straight miss for Toews, who was also unable to play against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday, February 21, 2012.
Fortunately for Blackhawks, they managed to pull off a win, which might help them in boosting their confidence just before the Stars tie.
The coach has already set the tone of the team, backing them to play effectively whether the captain plays or not.
He said the side cannot afford to lose on the points’ race and all these games are going to be crucial for the team no matter how much they are through to the injury problems.
Amid the uncertainty about their captain, Blackhawks might have good news about the participation of the defenseman, Niklas Hjalmarsson.
Hjalmarsson managed to skate for fourth consecutive day as he looks forward to return from an upper body injury, which forced him out of seven games in a row.
Blackhawks’ coach is optimistic about Hjalmarsson’s comeback provided that the player is hundred per cent fit and healthy.
His return to the squad will certainly compensate the absence of another defenseman, Steve Montador, who, just like Hjalmarsson, has missed seven straight games due to the same injury. He did not join the team for practice on Wednesday, indicating that he
is unlikely to play in the next game.
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