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Hossa hoping things ‘click’ with Toews and Ladd (Update: But he won’t play tonight)

Cross your fingers and hope for some chemistry, Blackhawks fans.

Tonight in St. Louis, Marian Hossa is expected to return from his month-long injury absence and skate on Chicago’s top line with captain Jonathan Toews and deadline acquisition Andrew Ladd.

On paper, it’s an imposing trio.

“I’m looking forward to playing with those two,” Hossa told CSN Chicago. “Hopefully we click, hopefully we find the chemistry and we can be the dominant line we want to be.”

If all that happens, the Blackhawks will barrel into the playoffs with those three on the first line and Artemi Panarin, Artem Anisimov and Patrick Kane on the second.

The bottom six -- featuring the likes of Teuvo Teravainen, Andrew Shaw, Andrew Desjardins, Tomas Fleischmann, and Dale Weise -- doesn’t look too bad either, especially with Marcus Kruger expected back soon.

“We feel there’s balance deeper than we’ve seen at any point this year,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “We’re better when everybody’s contributing as four lines, and that’s what we’re looking for.”

Update:

Related: Can Ehrhoff find a ‘style fit’ with the Blackhawks?