Teravainen returns as Blackhawks get ready to restart the season

The Chicago Blackhawks have not played a game since their 6-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Feb. 4. Tomorrow night the will finally get the chance to rinse the sour taste that poor effort left in their mouths. While 16 teams across the National Hockey League return to action tonight, the Blackhawks will resume their season against the Nashville Predators tomorrow night.

Teuvo Teravainen Returns

After spending the last two weeks in Milan, Blackhawks forward Teuvo Teravainen rejoined his teammates on the practice rink. He played in all seven games during Team Finland’s run to the bronze medal, recording one assist.

“It was such an awesome experience,” Teravainen said of playing in the Winter Olympics. “To hang out with all the Fins and play for your country was just awesome. Every time you step on the ice, you just leave everything out there. This time, at least, we got something to bring back home. A bronze is still pretty cool. We were so close to beating Canada, but it didn’t go our way at the end. It was a cool experience.”

Teravainen didn’t get into Chicago until last night, as the blizzard on the East Coast caused him to be stuck in New York for two days. He said with a smile that he was looking forward to a nice, big hotel room in Nashville tonight after spending two weeks in the Olympic Village rooming with Dallas Stars defenseman Esa Lindell.

Head coach Jeff Blashill wasn’t worried about the extra travel affecting the veteran forward’s playing time. He said Teravainen skated the most of anyone over the last couple of weeks, so his game legs shouldn't be an issue. He skated on the fourth line during practice today. Here’s how the forwards took rushes:

Ryan Greene-Connor Bedard-Andre Burakovsky
Oliver Moore-Frank Nazar-Tyler Bertuzzi
Ryan Donato-Jason Dickinson-Ilya Mikheyev
Teuvo Teravainen-Nick Foligno-Landon Slaggert

Artyom Levshunov Back From Reset

When the Blackhawks started their series of six practices last week, they recalled defensemen Kevin Korchinski and Sam Rinzell. Korchinski started off taking rushes in the top six with Artyom Levshunov skating as the seventh defenseman. But, as the on-ice sessions progressed, the rookie defender worked his way back into the top six.

While it wasn’t confirmed, Levshunov sure looks like he will be back in the Blackhawks’ lineup against the Predators tomorrow. He sat out the last three games before the Olympic break as a “reset,” since his play had taken a dip on the ice.

“At the beginning of the year, he was defending really well,” Blashill said earlier this week. “We worked on pushing him to bring more of that offense and attack the game, and he did a really good job. At some point, he probably got over that line of the balance between producing offense and giving up very little. He kind of walked over that line, and we got him back to start with the basis of playing good D and building from there. I expect he’ll play good hockey.”

Levshunov was paired with Matt Grzelcyk the last couple of days, while Korchinski skated with Sam Lafftery on the “extra pair.” It will be interesting to see how this unfolds over the next few days. Korchinski wasn’t called up to sit and watch. But, with the NHL trade deadline coming next Friday, at least one spot could open up soon. Don’t rule out seeing seven defensemen dressing until that happens, either.

Wyatt Kaiser Update

Staying on the blue line, Levshunov’s usual partner, Wyatt Kaiser, is working his way back into the lineup. He suffered a lower-body injury in that final game against the Blue Jackets. He skated on his own before practice today for the first time, which is a very positive sign.

 Blashill said Kaiser will not travel with the team today, but did not rule out his joining the team at some point on this four-game road trip. There is never a good time to be injured, but the timing of Kaiser’s injury couldn’t have been better. Because of the Olympic break, he might only miss a game or two as opposed to about a dozen had he gotten hurt at any other point of the season.