Dylan Strome could play for the first time in three weeks due to a right-ankle injury when the Blackhawks visit the Coyotes on Saturday in Glendale, Arizona.
The forward said he felt “pretty good” after he participated in Chicago’s first practice after its bye week Thursday, but coach Jeremy Colliton didn’t commit to saying whether Strome would play against his former team Saturday. Strome, who has 30 points (10 goals, 20 assists) in 40 games this season, skated at right wing on the third line with Alex DeBrincat and David Kampf.
Strome has missed the past seven games since he sustained the injury after he was tangled up with Flames defenseman Oliver Kylington 8:16 into the second period of the Blackhawks’ 2-1 loss Jan. 7 in Chicago. Strome also missed four games in early November and early December with a concussion.
#Blackhawks are back on the ice following the All-Star and bye week breaks, including Dylan Strome (right ankle). The forward hasn’t played since Jan. 7 against Calgary. pic.twitter.com/skv8RRyNPQ
— Carter Baum (@CarterBaum) January 30, 2020
Dylan Strome said he initially thought his ankle was broken, but was thankful MRI showed no damage other than a sprain.
He said he felt “pretty good” at practice today, but it’s unclear whether he’ll play Saturday. #Blackhawks
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) January 30, 2020
The Blackhawks (24-21-6) are also without forward Andrew Shaw (concussion), who hasn’t played since Nov. 30. Defensemen Calvin de Haan and Brent Seabrook, who each had right shoulder surgery Dec. 27, are out for the rest of the season. Seabrook also had right hip surgery in early January and is scheduled to have a procedure in early February on his left hip.
Lineup notes
With the addition of Strome to the lineup and Zack Smith sitting out because he felt sore and took a maintenance day, Colliton made some adjustments to the lineup in practice. Kirby Dach moved down from the third line to the fourth with Matthew Highmore and Alex Nylander, and Kampf shifted to the middle on the third line.
Colliton on Zack Smith missing practice today:
“Sore. After a few days off, obviously you don’t expect it, but sometimes you can’t predict when things are going to come on.”
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) January 30, 2020
The defensive pairings remained the same for Chicago, who recalled Dennis Gilbert from the Rockford IceHogs in the AHL on Wednesday. Gilbert had three shots on goal and served nine penalty minutes, including a fighting major, in two games while with Rockford during the bye week.
#Blackhawks lines and pairings in Arizona:
Kubalik-Toews-Caggiula
Saad-Carpenter-Kane
DeBrincat-Kampf-Strome
Nylander-Dach-HighmoreKeith-Boqvist
Gustafsson-Murphy
Maatta-Koekkoek*Zack Smith (maintenance) is not practicing today.
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) January 30, 2020