NASHVILLE -- Neither David Bolland nor Patrick Sharp are expected back in the lineup on Saturday when the Chicago Blackhawks take on the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena.
Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said the two forwards were questionable to play Sunday when Chicago faces Nashville in the second half of a home-and-home.
“We’ll see,” Quenneville said of their status for Sunday.
Bolland played 5:39 in Chicago’s 3-2 shootout win over Nashville on Monday night before being hit by a slapshot from Shea Weber, owner of one of the NHL’s hardest shots. Quenneville would not say if Bolland’s injury was related to that play, only saying the injury was to the forward's lower body.
Bolland played 12:57 against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday but is not expected to play against Nashville.
Sharp has missed 12 games with a shoulder injury but is close to returning. Quenneville said he expected to slot Marcus Kruger as the second-line center.
“I think Kruges will end up being there today,” Quenneville said.
Chicago's coach also said Ray Emery would start the game in goal. It will be Emery's first appearance since he started in the Blackhawks' 2-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on March 29.
The Predators returned defenseman Ryan Ellis to Milwaukee of the American Hockey League on Saturday. Ellis was recalled on an emergency basis Thursday when Victor Bartley could not play because of an illness.
Ellis played 20:11 in a 3-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets and took four shots but was a minus-1.
Bartley did not practice on Friday but appeared ready to play Saturday. He tweeted, “2 pm start at Bridgestone vs Blackhawks. Let's go.”
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