Jonathan Toews figures to face Canucks; Patrick Sharp still in doubt

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Jonathan Toews (right) and Patrick Sharp participated in the Blackhawks’ practice on Monday in Vancouver. | Nam Y. Huh~AP

Updated: March 1, 2012 9:51AM

VANCOUVER, B.C. — Stan Bowman might not have to wait long to see how the new piece he added during the All-Star break fits in with a full-strength Blackhawks team.

Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp returned to practice Monday at Rogers Arena ahead of the Hawks’ game Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks.

Toews (left wrist) has missed one game, as well as All-Star weekend in Ottawa, and Sharp (left wrist) has missed eight games since he was injured Jan. 8 against the Detroit Red Wings.

“I’m excited to be back and took the time I think I needed this past week,” Toews said. “Unfortunately, no one ever wants to sacrifice a weekend like that, but I had to do what I had to do and I feel like I’m definitely going to be ready for tomorrow and I’m excited to play hockey again.”

Toews was slashed by the Florida Panthers’ Erik Gudbranson on Jan. 20 while he was shooting. He played through pain for the rest of that game and didn’t come out the next night against the Nashville Predators until the second period.

“It was just one of those things that never bothered me enough to complain about,” Toews said. “I was just trying to take a shot in the second period there against Florida and kind of tweaked it. Over the course of that game and the next game in Nashville, it kind of got worse.”

The exact date of Sharp’s return remained in question. The winger, who skated in practice on the second line with Marian Hossa and newly acquired center Brendan Morrison, said his left wrist still felt a little stiff and had some ­minor pain.

“Today was the first time I touched a puck since the injury, so there’s all sorts of precautionary stuff you have to go through,” Sharp said. “I want to get back as fast as I can. Whether that’s [Tuesday], the second game or the third game [of the trip], who knows?”

Morrison, who spent eight seasons with the Cancucks and lives in the Vancouver area, was well aware he was stepping into one of the most heated rivalries in the NHL.

“These guys have a pretty intense battle going here,” Morrison said. “Nothing like jumping into it.”

The run-up to the game was dominated by talk in the media about Dave Bolland’s comments in December, when he called Henrik and Daniel Sedin “sisters.”

But Bolland and the Canucks seemed determined Monday to put the incident behind them, at least publicly.

“We just moved on from those [comments],” said Bolland, who skated in practice on the third line with Marcus Kruger and Andrew Shaw. “I think they’re great players, they know that. It’s always just a great challenge playing against them and this team.”

Asked if the comments could possibly add more fuel to an already heated rivalry between the teams, Canucks coach Alain Vigneualt said he expected both squads to bring the same intensity as always.

“How can it be more intense than it already is?” he said.

The rivalry will be without one of its more prominent players Tuesday. Vigneault opted to start Cory Schneider in goal in place of Roberto Luongo. Corey Crawford will start for the Hawks.