As Jack Brickhouse used to say, "Well, it sure could have been worse."
Patrick Kane left the ice on Dec. 5 when the Blackhawks were playing the Calgary Flames at the United Center -- a game the Hawks went on to win -- and at the time, it was stated he was out "indefintely." Nightmare scenarios of him missing months notwithstanding, Kane is back after missing only eight games -- and the Blackhawks went 5-3 in those eight games.
Riding a four-game winning streak, the Blackhawks invade Scottrade Center in St. Louis to face the Blues tonight. Marty Turco is expected to be in goal tonight again; Corey Crawford is active, but still suffering the aftereffects of the flu he suffered over the weekend, so Turco gets the start. That may cause some problems for coach Joel Quenneville, but having two good goaltenders who can both win -- not such a bad thing.
Fernando Pisani is likely to be the healthy scratch tonight; the Hawks now are 100% healthy for the first time in a long time, maybe all year.
The game begins at 7 p.m. CST and will be televised on CSN Chicago.