Jets' Kane scratched against Blackhawks

CHICAGO -- Evander Kane (lower body) was scratched from the Winnipeg Jets' lineup on Wednesday before their game against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Kane, who missed the Jets' 4-2 victory against the Detroit Red Wings on Monday, participated in an optional morning skate Wednesday and was a game-time decision.

The Blackhawks (9-2-4) are playing for the first time since a 3-2 overtime loss at home Sunday against the Calgary Flames. However, they had started the weekend with a 5-1 defeat of the Jets on Saturday at MTS Centre in Winnipeg.

That game was a homecoming for Blackhawks captain and Winnipeg native Jonathan Toews. This game will mark the return to Chicago for three former Blackhawks who won the Stanley Cup in the Windy City. Jets captain Andrew Ladd and defenseman Dustin Byfuglien were on the 2010 championship roster, while forward Michael Frolik helped bring the Cup to Chicago last season.

Toews knows what to expect from the Jets in the rematch.

"Same thing we saw in Winnipeg," he said. "They came at us hard that game. I think there's a few things we probably could've done better in that game but we found the back of the net obviously. We'll expect the same hard-working aspect of their game to come out ... we've had a few days off here so we have to make sure we're ready for this one."

Ladd and Byfuglien have played in United Center as opponents since being traded, but it will be the first time back for Frolik, who was traded to Winnipeg in June.

Chicago still is trying to fill the voids he left behind at right wing on the fourth line and on the penalty kill, where he combined with center Marcus Kruger to form a top puck-pressuring duo. The Blackhawks enter games Wednesday ranked 30th in the NHL on the penalty kill (73.2 percent) one season after finishing third in the League in the regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs.

"I heard about that and it's hard to say, if I [were] there again, it's [no guarantee] it would work again," Frolik said. "Last year was special. Me and Krugs [Kruger], we had something great going on, but obviously it changed. Maybe they miss me, I don't know, but it's hard to say."

Al Montoya, originally from Chicago, will get the start in net for Winnipeg after picking up the win against Detroit and relieving Ondrej Pavelec during the loss to the Blackhawks. Corey Crawford will start in goal for Chicago.

Here is how the Jets and Blackhawks likely will line up Wednesday:

JETS

Andrew Ladd - Bryan Little - Devin Setoguchi

Eric Tangradi - Olli Jokinen - Blake Wheeler

Matt Halischuk - Mark Scheifele - Michael Frolik

Chris Thorburn - James Wright - Anthony Peluso

Grant Clitsome - Dustin Byfuglien

Tobias Enstrom - Zach Bogosian

Adam Pardy - Keaton Ellerby

Al Montoya

Ondrej Pavelec

Scratched: Zach Redmond, Evander Kane

Injured: Jacob Trouba (upper body), Jim Slater (lower body), Paul Postma (lower body), Mark Stuart (lower body)

BLACKHAWKS

Patrick Sharp - Jonathan Toews - Marian Hossa

Brandon Saad - Brandon Pirri - Patrick Kane

Bryan Bickell - Andrew Shaw - Sheldon Brookbank 

Brandon Bollig - Marcus Kruger - Ben Smith

Duncan Keith - Brent Seabrook

Johnny Oduya - Niklas Hjalmarsson

Nick Leddy - Michal Rozsival

Scratched: Jeremy Morin

Injured: Brad Mills (lower body), Michael Kostka (lower body), Michal Handzus (upper body)