One of the nice things about having news to pass along regarding Connor Murphy means that it offers another opportunity to share this face he made in the direction of Ottawa’s Brady Tkachuk, which is the proper face to make when that particular Tkachuk is doing very Tkachuk things.
Anyway, the veteran blue-liner has been back on practice ice this week while attempting to return from an injury that’s had him sidelined since Jan. 13. He also provided an update on what the specific injury is:
Chicago plays next Wednesday in St. Louis and at home on Friday night against the Nashville Predators, and it seems like either of those games could be the place for Murphy’s return.
Another injured Blackhawks player is heading in the opposite direction in terms of being ready for a return to game action:
The season ends in two weeks, so it certainly seems like Reese Johnson has played his final game this season. Johnson is a restricted free agent this summer, so it’s also possible he’s played his final game for Chicago.
Here are some line combinations from Friday’s practice, which could be indicative of the lineup for this weekend’s pair of afternoon games:
The eagle-eyed Roumeliotis also had some updates on Connor Bedard’s tape job, with the change possibly attributed to Bedard’s recent goal-scoring slump:
Chicago faces the Dallas Stars on Saturday afternoon and then the Minnesota Wild on Sunday afternoon, with both games at the United Center.