"The Blackhawks will shorten what has been a lengthy injury list by two with wingers Marian Hossa and Viktor Stalberg returning to the lineup tonight at the United Center against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Patrick Kane will not play, missing his eighth consecutive game with an ankle injury.

Hossa has missed 10 games since sustaining a lower-body injury when he collided Nov. 29 with defenseman Nick Boynton at practice. The winger has practiced with the team since last week, but says he won't know if he's at 100 percent until he gets in the game.

"Obviously when you're coming from injury you have to feel comfortable and I am at that level," Hossa said. "The real battle is going to show how good it is, but I feel mentally strong right now and that's the really important thing."

Stalberg passed all of the NHL-mandated tests last week following a concussion he suffered Dec. 15 against the Colorado Avalanche, but coach Joel Quenneville decided to hold him out until after the Christmas break to allow the winger more time to heal.

Kane is also getting more time to mend, but Quenneville said the 22-year-old, who has 27 points in 28 games, is "real close" to a return to the lineup.

"He was entertaining [the game against the Blue Jackets] as a possibility, I think we're being smart about it and we'll see how he does tomorrow [at practice] and we'll look at [Tuesday] against St. Louis as a possibility," Quenneville said."