The Blackhawks practiced in Bensenville on Saturday afternoon and afterward coach Joel Quenneville said goaltender Antti Niemi would make his first career NHL start Sunday against the Los Angeles Kings.
Niemi got his first taste of the NHL when he took over for Cristobal Huet to start the third period of Friday night's 5-4 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He has been serving as Huet's backup with Nikolai Khabibulin sidelined with a lower-body injury.
The native of Finland made five saves before yielding Evgeni Malkin's game-winner 1 minutes 36 seconds into OT while the Penguins were on a power play.
"It gives him an opportunity," Quenneville said of Niemi. "Khabby hasn't skated yet so there's some time there before we know exactly when he'll be back. We were going to play [Niemi] one of these games and [Sunday] is the perfect time."
Quenneville said he expects Khabibulin to resume skating in less than a week but the team is taking it slow with the veteran, who appears to have a groin injury.
"These injuries are tricky sometimes," Quenneville said. "With goalies you want to make sure you're safe and use caution."
Khabibulin rode the bike while his teammates were on the ice.
Working out alongside Khabibulin was Patrick Sharp, who is sidelined with a knee injury. Sharp was wearing a brace on his left knee.
"Sharpie is progressing," Quenneville said. "The last couple of days his workouts are getting a little more intense and he's starting to feel better. I can't say when he's going to get on the ice but he's progressing."
Niemi got his first taste of the NHL when he took over for Cristobal Huet to start the third period of Friday night's 5-4 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He has been serving as Huet's backup with Nikolai Khabibulin sidelined with a lower-body injury.
The native of Finland made five saves before yielding Evgeni Malkin's game-winner 1 minutes 36 seconds into OT while the Penguins were on a power play.
"It gives him an opportunity," Quenneville said of Niemi. "Khabby hasn't skated yet so there's some time there before we know exactly when he'll be back. We were going to play [Niemi] one of these games and [Sunday] is the perfect time."
Quenneville said he expects Khabibulin to resume skating in less than a week but the team is taking it slow with the veteran, who appears to have a groin injury.
"These injuries are tricky sometimes," Quenneville said. "With goalies you want to make sure you're safe and use caution."
Khabibulin rode the bike while his teammates were on the ice.
Working out alongside Khabibulin was Patrick Sharp, who is sidelined with a knee injury. Sharp was wearing a brace on his left knee.
"Sharpie is progressing," Quenneville said. "The last couple of days his workouts are getting a little more intense and he's starting to feel better. I can't say when he's going to get on the ice but he's progressing."
