Blackhawks stars Toews and Kane will return for Game 1 of Stanley Cup playoffs

Chicago Blackhawks superstar forwards Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane have led the team to two Stanley Cup victories in the past four years. While the Blackhawks supporting cast has seen enormous turnover over the years, Kane and Toews have been constants. 

For the past few weeks both Kane and Toews have been shutdown while healing from respective minor ailments. Kane left a game in mid-March with an apparent apparent leg injury, while Toews hurt what seemed to be his shoulder when he was hit hard by Penguins defender Brooks Orpik later that month.

While neither star forward has played in nearly two weeks, they'll be back in the Blackhawks lineup for game one of Chicago's first round series against the St. Louis Blues. "They've been skating the last few days together so it's definitely encouraging," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville told reporters on Monday. "Having these guys healthy and ready is exciting."

Continued Qunneville: "We know they're ready. Obviously they haven't played games in a while, but at the level they're accustomed to playing at, I think they'll be fine."

Kane and Toews, for their part, both touted their readiness and expressed an eagerness to return to the lineup. "I feel good, y'know, I'm excited to get things going," Kane told reporters. "I've been watching a lot of hockey lately, so it'll be nice to play in some games."

"I had some time to rest my injury; the right amount of time," continued Kane. "With anything you want to make sure you're feeling good coming back and I think that's where I'm at."

"Tomorrow I'll be out there with the boys, back to the usual routine" said Toews, apparently chomping at the bit. "It's nice, it's not fun to be on your own program for a couple of weeks."

The Blues and Blackhawks open their first round playoff series on Thursday evening in St. Louis.