March 11--Blackhawks winger Marian Hossa will play Friday night against the Stars in Hossa's first game back since suffering a left leg injury on Feb. 13.
Hossa has skated with the Hawks for much of the last week. He was close to playing Wednesday in St. Louis but said he did not feel 100 percent. But Hossa felt fine after Friday's morning skate and said he will be in the lineup.
"I think it's the right time," Hossa said. "I felt better. It's time to go."
Hossa said he took extra time to recover in part because he wanted to feel secure from a psychological standpoint that he could play in a game without having to worry about his injury.
"You've got it in your head and you want to make sure you're 100 percent sure," Hossa said. "I wasn't ready in St. Louis. I just felt I wasn't at the time. Even those two days definitely helped and today I felt way better again and did a few exercises in the corner pushing and shoving, and felt pretty strong."
Michal Rozsival is out after leaving the skate early. Coach Joel Quenneville said Rozsival has a lower-body injury that is not serious. His status is day-to-day. Jonathan Toews did not skate but will play. Quenneville said there is no lingering soreness for Toews from a hip flexor Toews said he suffered Wednesday against the Blues.
