The Blackhawks may be without one of their hottest players when they battle the Capitals on Friday.
Center Artem Anisimov is questionable because of an upper-body injury he suffered in Wednesday's victory over the Blues. Anisimov is also considered questionable for Sunday's game against the Canadiens, coach Joel Quenneville said.
Anisimov left Wednesday's game in the second period but it was unclear when or how he suffered the injury. Quenneville declined to give details about the injury but said that an NHL-designated concussion spotter did not pull Anisimov from the game.
"He's playing great. He has had a great stretch of the season," winger Patrick Kane said. "We'll take it day by day. If he's missing someone else has to step up and fill that role."
It would be a big role to fill considering the start Anisimov has had this season. He had an 11-game point streak snapped Wednesday and was tied for second in the league in points with Kane and the Oilers' Connor McDavid entering Thursday.
"You're missing a guy who has had a tremendous start for us in all areas of our team game," Quenneville said. "We're still hopeful that he could play."
If Anisimov can't play, Quenneville said either Nick Schmaltz or Marcus Kruger would slide into the second-line center spot between Artemi Panarin and Marian Hossa.
