Ankle will force him out for 1st time in his career
The Blackhawks will have to try to snap their two-game losing streak without leading scorer Patrick Kane.
The second-year winger won't be in the lineup Sunday night when the Hawks take on the Calgary Flames at the United Center because of the lingering effects of a high-ankle sprain from Tuesday night against the Red Wings in Detroit that he aggravated during Thursday's Winter Classic.
Kane is scheduled to travel with the team to Phoenix for Tuesday night's game against the Coyotes, but he could be sidelined for that game and possibly longer.
"It's not feeling too great right now, so I think I have to rest up and make sure it's better for a better time of the year when I'm needed more," Kane said. "We'll see how it feels [Sunday] and keep going from there. I'm going to do everything I can to get back as soon as I can.
"Hopefully, if you take three or four or a couple of games off, whatever it may be, you're better when you come back. [Thursday] I wasn't really myself out there. I didn't feel comfortable."
It will be the first game Kane has missed in his NHL career after playing in all 82 last season and the first 35 this season.
"It's tough to sit out when you have played so many in a row," Kane said. "But it's worth taking the time off to get it better."
Kane, who played 17 minutes 51 seconds in Thursday's 6-4 loss, said he likely would have attempted to play even if it hadn't been such a special event.
"You do all you can to stay in the lineup and be a part of the team," the 20-year-old said. "But now I know what it feels like and where I need to get it to be effective."
Ben Eager likely will replace Kane on a line with Patrick Sharp and Troy Brouwer against the Flames. With Kane a scratch, forward Adam Burish will return to the lineup after missing 16 games with a broken toe.
The Blackhawks will have to try to snap their two-game losing streak without leading scorer Patrick Kane.
The second-year winger won't be in the lineup Sunday night when the Hawks take on the Calgary Flames at the United Center because of the lingering effects of a high-ankle sprain from Tuesday night against the Red Wings in Detroit that he aggravated during Thursday's Winter Classic.
Kane is scheduled to travel with the team to Phoenix for Tuesday night's game against the Coyotes, but he could be sidelined for that game and possibly longer.
"It's not feeling too great right now, so I think I have to rest up and make sure it's better for a better time of the year when I'm needed more," Kane said. "We'll see how it feels [Sunday] and keep going from there. I'm going to do everything I can to get back as soon as I can.
"Hopefully, if you take three or four or a couple of games off, whatever it may be, you're better when you come back. [Thursday] I wasn't really myself out there. I didn't feel comfortable."
It will be the first game Kane has missed in his NHL career after playing in all 82 last season and the first 35 this season.
"It's tough to sit out when you have played so many in a row," Kane said. "But it's worth taking the time off to get it better."
Kane, who played 17 minutes 51 seconds in Thursday's 6-4 loss, said he likely would have attempted to play even if it hadn't been such a special event.
"You do all you can to stay in the lineup and be a part of the team," the 20-year-old said. "But now I know what it feels like and where I need to get it to be effective."
Ben Eager likely will replace Kane on a line with Patrick Sharp and Troy Brouwer against the Flames. With Kane a scratch, forward Adam Burish will return to the lineup after missing 16 games with a broken toe.
