Projected lineups for Blackhawks, Avalanche

Friday, 03.08.2013 / 6:03 PM

By Rick Sadowski - NHL.com Correspondent / 2012-2013 At the Rink blog

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DENVER – Here are the projected lineups for Friday night’s game between the Chicago Blackhawks and Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center.

Blackhawks right wing Patrick Sharp will miss between three and four weeks with what coach Joel Quenneville said is an upper-body injury suffered in Wednesday’s game against the Avalanche. Kane won’t need surgery, Quenneville said. Right wing Marian Hossa will play after missing Wednesday’s game with an upper-body injury.

Defenseman Erik Johnson will return to the Colorado Avalanche lineup after missing 11 games with a concussion. He will replace Tyson Barrie in the lineup.

“It’s a weird type of injury,” Johnson said. “You never know how long it’s going to take. It’s definitely tough sitting out and watching the guys play and missing as many games as I did. I wish it was quicker, but you only get one brain, so you have to make sure you’re ready to go. Everything feels good. If it didn’t, I wouldn’t be playing.”

Barrie, a 21-year-old rookie, has one goal and five assists in 15 games.

“He’s had a drop-off his last two games,” Avalanche coach Joe Sacco said of Barrie. “He hasn’t played the way he’s capable of playing. He’s a typical young player having some tough ups and downs. He needs to be a little more responsible defensively.”

BLACKHAWKS

Brandon Saad – Jonathan Toews – Marian Hossa

Bryan Bickell – Dave Bolland – Patrick Kane

Daniel Carcillo – Andrew Shaw – Viktor Stalberg

Brandon Bollig – Marcus Kruger – Michael Frolik

Duncan Keith – Brent Seabrook

Niklas Hjalmarsson – Johnny Oduya

Nick Leddy – Michal Rozsival

Corey Crawford

Ray Emery

Scratches: Sheldon Brookbank, Jamal Mayers, Steve Montador

Injuries: Patrick Sharp (upper body)