Chicago Blackhawks center Artem Anisimov will miss 3 to 4 weeks with a lower-body injury, coach Joel Quenneville announced Wednesday.
The timetable would likely put Anisimov out for the rest of the season. However, backup goaltender Scott Darling was given a three-week window for his return and was cleared after 10 days.
Anisimov suffered the left leg injury in the waining seconds of the first period against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday. Anisimov laid on the ice for several minutes after after Canadiens winger Alexander Radulov pinned him against the boards.
The Hawks medical staff and defenseman Duncan Keith helped Anisimov to his feet and to the locker room. The Chicago center was unable to put pressure on his left leg as he exited. He was seen in a walking boot after the game.
Quenneville initially said Anisimov would be day-to-day during his postgame press conference.
During the next two periods, rookie Nick Schmaltz moved into the second-line center role while Richard Panik and Marian Hossa flanked Jonathan Toews on the top line.
Rookie forward John Hayden, who signed a two-year contract earlier this week after completing his senior season at Yale, will likely skate on the top line with Toews, reports Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun Times. The 22-year-old posted career-high numbers for the Bulldogs this season with 21 goals and 13 assists in 33 games. Thursday’s game at Ottawa will be the 6-foot-3, 223-pounder’s NHL debut.
Here’s a look at the projected lines:
Panik-Toews-Hayden
Panarin-Schmaltz-Kane
Hartman-Kero-Hossa
Desjardins-Kruger-Tootoo