After a five-day layoff, the Chicago Blackhawks will be back on the ice Wednesday as they take on the St. Louis Blues, and they’ll have one of their most important players back with them.
Nick Schmaltz, who has missed the team’s last four games as he’s dealt with an upper body injury, is expected to be back on the ice for the nationally televised divisional showdown.
In his first game of the season, Schmaltz made an immediate impact, scoring a pair of goals and notching an assist against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He was injured after just 34 seconds of ice time against the Blue Jackets, and he has missed the team’s last four games.
In practice on Wednesday, Schmaltz was back on the second line, centering Ryan Hartman and Patrick Kane. Artem Anisimov, who had centered the line in Schmaltz’s absence, will shift back to the third line for Wednesday’s game, skating with Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Sharp.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game will air nationally on NBCSN with none other than Eddie Olczyk on the call.
