Jonathan Toews has a ‘good day’
BY ADAM L. JAHNS ajahns@suntimes.com March 5, 2012 10:30PM
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Updated: April 10, 2012 10:29AM
ST. LOUIS — Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville was adamant. Asked Monday if captain Jonathan Toews’ one-car accident Feb. 23 has played a role in his injury status, Quenneville changed his tone and said: ‘‘I don’t think it has anything to do with where we’re at.’’
The Hawks will play their eighth consecutive game without Toews when they visit the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday. Quenneville, though, still sounded optimistic when discussing Toews, who is out with a concussion.
‘‘[Toews] had a good day off the ice today,’’ Quenneville said. ‘‘He worked out and [was] fine. . . . We’re hopeful that [he starts skating] soon. I can’t give you an ideal date, but today is encouraging.’’
Defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson (concussion symptoms) also will sit out against the Blues. The Hawks are being cautious with him after his symptoms returned when he played Feb. 23 against the Dallas Stars. He will miss his 12th game in the last 13.
‘‘He’s getting real close,’’
Quenneville said.
On the record
New Hawks enforcer Brandon Bollig, who is from suburban
St. Louis, on facing the Blues: ‘‘Not only do I get to play with the Hawks right now and keep living that dream, but I get to be able to come home and play in front of my hometown crowd. It’s going to be quite the ride.
‘‘I’m here to bring that physical element, and that’s definitely a team that brings it, as well. Hopefully I can just do my job and have some fun.’’
In goal
Goalie Ray Emery will start his third game in a row Tuesday. He was named the NHL’s third star of last week after going 3-0 with a 1.13 goals-against average and a .959 save percentage.
