Hoge's Blackhawks Notebook: Emery, Bolland Out For Game 2, Could Travel For Game 3
By Adam Hoge-
JOHNNY'S ICE HOUSE (CBS) Ray Emery was on the ice taking shots from goaltending coach Stephane Waite before Thursday's practice, but when the rest of the team took the ice, the backup goaltender headed back to the locker room.
Later, head coach Joel Quenneville ruled both Emery and forward Dave Bolland out for Friday's Game 2 against the Minnesota Wild at the United Center, but said both were "likely coming" to Minnesota for Game 3 and 4.
"It was good progress today," Quenneville said about Emery, who has not played since leaving in the first period of an April 24th game against the Oilers with a lower body injury.
The head coach said Bolland, who is battling a groin injury, is close to getting back on the ice.
Henrik Karlsson will once again back up Corey Crawford with Emery unavailable Friday.
Line Check
Not surprisingly, there were no changes to the lines in Thursday's practice:
1st line: Sadd – Toews – Hossa
2nd line: Sharp – Handzus – Kane
3rd line: Bickell – Shaw – Stalberg
4th line: Bollig – Kruger – Frolik
Daniel Carcillo, Jamal Mayers and Ben Smith remain on the fifth line as likely scratches.
Wild Injuries
According to the Minnesota Star Tribune, Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom, winger Jason Pominville and defenseman Clayton Stoner all missed practice Thursday.
The report says Backstrom and Pominville are unlikely to play.
Backstrom suffered a lower body injury during warmups before Game 1, while Pominville has been recovering from a head injury. Stoner was injured during Game 1 on a hit by Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw.
With Backstrom likely out, look for rookie Darcy Kuemper to backup Josh Harding in net Friday night. Kuemper was recalled from the Houston Aeros Wednesday.
The Wild are flying back to Chicago later today after practicing this morning in St. Paul.
For more Blackhawks coverage throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs, follow Adam on Twitter at @AdamHoge.
