Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Anisimov out 3-4 weeks, could be done for regular season

The left leg injury Artem Anisimov suffered last night isn’t serious, but it’s serious enough.

Anisimov, who left Tuesday’s win over Montreal in a walking boot, will miss the next 3-4 weeks of action, Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville confirmed this afternoon.

The injury occurred late in the first period of last night’s game, just moments after Anisimov set up a Patrick Kane goal to set a new career-high in points, with 45.

The feat was made even more impressive given Anisimov got there in just 63 games played. His previous high, of 44, came in 82 games with the Rangers during the ’10-11 campaign.

But now, it’s fair to suggest Anisimov won’t build on that total.

If he’s out three weeks, that puts his return at Apr. 5 -- at which point Chicago would have just two regular-season games left: Apr. 6 in Anaheim, and Apr. 8 in Los Angeles.

If Anisimov misses a full month, he’d be out until Apr. 12 -- which is when the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs will begin.

Chicago is in good shape to deal with such a loss. For one, rookie Nick Schmaltz stepped in to replace Anisimov at center between Kane and Artemi Panarin last night, and looked good.

The ‘Hawks are also going to make the playoffs, and the only real uncertainty is where they’ll finish in the standings. Top spots in the Central Division and Western Conference are within reach -- Chicago currently holds both, with 93 points, one more than Minnesota and two up on San Jose.

It is worth noting, however, that the Wild have a game in hand.