Andrew Brunette’s injury not serious; he’ll travel this week

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Updated: March 7, 2012 9:51AM

There were concerns within the Blackhawks organization that Andrew Brunette might have sustained a significant injury over the course of back-to-back defeats against the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames.

But after returning to Chicago and being examined by team doctors, things aren’t as bad as they first appeared.

“[Brunette] is feeling much better today than he did when we saw him last [in Western Canada],” coach Joel Quenneville said Sunday.

To further illustrate the lack of severity, Brunette (upper body) will travel with the team to Denver, San Jose and Phoenix. There’s a good chance he’ll play this weekend against the Sharks or Coyotes. Brunette has missed three games in the last nine seasons.

Brunette, who has spent most of the season among the bottom six forwards, has nine goals and 19 points in 52 games.

“He was really uncomfortable there for a few days, but he’s feeling much better,” Quenneville said.

Penalty problems

The Hawks have been short-handed only 166 times this season, sixth-fewest in the NHL. But as their frustrations have mounted, their discipline has been lacking. They committed a total of 11 penalties in losses to the Oilers and Flames. Most of them have been stick penalties, including four high-sticking calls.

“[You have] to keep your sticks on the ice and be aware of where you are on the ice, body-positioning with your stick,” defenseman Steve Montador said. “There’s really no rhyme or reason other than having control.”

Sick bay

Center Jonathan Toews was sick Sunday and didn’t practice.